Feb. 24, 2008

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern sent seniors Nadia Bibbs (Chicago, Ill./Hillcrest), Melissa Miller (Bloomington, Minn./The Breck School) and Sara Stutz (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) off in style Sunday afternoon, defeating Penn State 70-58 to earn their first conference win of the season. Bibbs tallied a team-high 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds. She also added four assists and two steals in her final game at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

"I'm so proud for these girls," head coach Beth Combs said. "They've put in four years, week-after-week and to put it together for them tonight, regardless of how our season has gone so far, is a great tribute to them. These three women are amazing people and we are happy to get a 'W' for them."

NU pulled out to a 17-8 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining, but Penn State responded with a 7-0 run to pull within a basket with half way through the frame. A three-pointer from Meshia Reed (Country Club Hills, Ill./Stockbridge (Ga.)) gave NU a 22-15 advantage with 6:50 left.

The Lady Lions eventually cut the lead to one, 27-26, with 2:32 to go. Bibbs knocked down a trey to give NU a four-point lead, but a layup by Tyra Grant once again pulled PSU to within one possession.

The Wildcats scored the final five points of the half to take a 35-31 lead heading into the locker room.

Northwestern held Penn State to just 35 percent shooting from the field in the first half, while knocking down 15-of-31 (48 percent) from the floor. Bibbs led NU with 12 points at the break, followed by Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) with eight.

Penn State opened the half on a 10-2 run to pull within a point before consecutive buckets by Reed and Jaeschke set NU's lead back to five.

Northwestern slowly built an 11-point lead; capped off by back-to-back lay ups from Ellen Jaeschke (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove/Air Force). But the Lady Lions would not go away, mustering six unanswered points to pull to within five, 52-47, with just under 10 minutes remaining.

PSU pulled within three, but consecutive treys from Amy Jaeschke and Bibbs gave NU a 60-53 cushion with 6:19.

The Wildcats outscored the Lady Lions 10-5 over the next six minutes to hang on for a 70-58 victory.

Amy Jaeschke joined Bibbs in double-figures with 17 points, nine of which came in the second half. Reed nearly recorded a double-double, contributing nine points and 10 rebounds.

Northwestern once again benefitted from its role players, receiving 24 points off the bench and also capitalized on PSU's 13 turnovers, registering 21 points on Lady Lion miscues.

The Wildcats held their annual end-of-the-year reception and presented the following awards:

The Swiffer Award for Loose Balls -- Ellen Jaeschke
The Iceberg Award for Tips -- Nadia Bibbs
The Jail Award for Steals -- Nadia Bibbs
The Windex Award for Rebounds -- Nadia Bibbs
The Helping Hands Award for Assists -- Nadia Bibbs

The Wildcats are next in action on Thursday, Feb. 28 when they travel to Iowa for a 7 p.m. contest.