Southern Illinois University
3-3
Northwestern
4-3
Women's Basketball Falls to Northwestern, 75-62
12/14/2002 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 14, 2002
Evanston, Ill. - Sophomore guard Kristin Ambrose scored 19 points off the bench to lead Northwestern (4-3) to a 75-62 win over Southern Illinois (3-3) earlier tonight at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The loss snapped SIU's three-game winning streak, as the Salukis fell for the eighth straight time to a Big Ten opponent.
Despite being whistled for seven fouls in the first 7:42 of the game, SIU managed to take a 15-9 lead behind three 3-pointers. McDowell scored eight of the Salukis' first 15 points, including six from behind the three-point arc.
Although an uncontested layup by Kristin Ambrose cut SIU's lead to 20-19, McDowell answered with another three-pointer to give the Dawgs a 23-19 advantage with 9:04 left in the first half.
Trailing by four, NU converted five more Saluki fouls into nine free throws, and as a result, went on a 16-5 run to take a 35-28 lead at the break. Michelle Zylstra, Natalie Will, Ambrose and Melissa Culver each made at least two free throws apiece to ignite the Wildcat surge.
SIU was tabbed with 13 personal fouls which outweighed NU's six. Five Salukis, including starters McDowell, Tiffany Crutcher and Dana Pinkston committed two fouls apiece, as the Wildcats shot 14-of-16 free throws to the Dawgs' 1-of-2.
McDowell scored 13 points, including nine from downtown to lead all Saluki scorers in the first half.
NU took advantage of three SIU misses and one turnover to increase its lead to 40-28 in the first 1:45 of the second half. Sarah Kwasinski (15.3 ppg), the Wildcats' top scoring threat, posted her first points of the game on a jumper at the 18:59 mark after sitting most of the first half due to foul trouble. A three-pointer by Samantha McComb (18:15) also added to NU's quick burst.
The Wildcats would lead by 12 points on seven other occasions before using a 10-2 run in final 6:07 to put the Salukis away.
Ahead 61-49 with 5:52 remaining, Ambrose scored four points to fuel another spurt that consisted of at least six free throws. A pair of freebees by Will (1:50) ended the run which sealed the Wildcats' 75-62 win.
It was evident that the Wildcats controlled the game at the free throw line where they shot 24-of-26 (.923) to SIU's mere 6-of-9 (.667). The Salukis were charged with 20 fouls to NU's 13.
Ambrose led all NU scorers with 19 points, while McComb followed with 18.
McDowell shot 8-of-19 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range to lead the Salukis with 25 points. Her 25-point effort marked the first of the season posting 20 or more points. Hillary Phillips also reached double figures with 10 points.
SIU will head to the Long Beach Classic to face Mercer on Friday, Dec. 20. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m., CST.
