Indiana University Athletics
Northwestern Preview (2-11-05)
2/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
• The Hoosiers and Wildcats met earlier in the year with IU earning one of its two conference victories this season claiming a, 53-42, victory on Jan. 13 in Bloomington. Indiana leads the all-time series with a 28-24 advantage over NU. In Evanston, the Wildcats lead the series, 17-6.
• Indiana has not won a conference road game since Jan. 22, 2004 when it defeated Illinois, 63-56.
WORD ON THE WILDCATS
Northwestern sports a 5-19 overall record and a 2-9 mark in conference play entering Sunday's game with the Hoosiers. The Wildcats are coming off a, 60-40, loss to Iowa on Thursday, Feb. 10 in Evanston. NU's two conference wins came over Michigan, 66-59, (Jan. 6.) and Penn State, 59-48 (Jan. 27). In addition, the Wildcats are 3-8 when playing on their home court this season.
Two Wildcats average double-figures as Sarah Kwasinski (12.3) and Ifeoma Okonkwo (12.0) lead Northwestern on the offensive end. Melissa Miller's team-high 6.3 rebounds per game, rank 13th in the conference.
In conference games only, Northwestern ranks third in assists (183/16.64) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage (38-110/.345).
Head Coach Beth Combs is in the midst of her first season with the Wildcats. She served as the head coach of Colgate University from 2002-04 before coming to Northwestern. A native of Decatur, Ill., Combs attended the University of Illinois and played basketball for the Fighting Illini.
DEFENSE AMONG THE BEST
Indiana's stifling defense has put them near the top of three categories among Big Ten Conference teams. The Hoosiers rank first in field goal percentage defense (418-1162/.360) and three-point field goal percentage defense (68-240/.283). In addition, IU ranks second in scoring defense, as it has limited opponents to an average of 55.0 points per game over the course of 22 games. Not only do IU's defensive efforts rank high in the conference, the Hoosiers have also made it on to the national scene as their scoring defense and field-goal percent defense rank 11th and 24th, respectively.
PACK THE HALL COMING UP SOON
For the third consecutive year, the Indiana women's basketball team is out to set a new home attendance record, and for the third straight year, breast cancer research will come out as the real winner.
The Hoosiers are teaming up with Vera Bradley Designs to `Pack the Hall for a Cure' and hopefully draw more than 10,000 fans to Assembly Hall for Indiana's 2 p.m. game against Purdue on February 20.
In honor of IU women's basketball fans, Vera Bradley Designs will donate $10,000 for breast cancer research to the IU Cancer Center in Indianapolis if the Hoosiers Pack the Hall with more than 10,000 people.
Tickets are available by calling the Indiana ticket office toll-free at 1-866-IUSPORTS or by visiting the official web site of Indiana athletics, iuhoosiers.com.
NEXT GAME
Indiana returns home for its next matchup against non-conference opponent, Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. (EST) and can be heard locally on WHCC (105.1) with Jeremy Gray calling all of the action.
