The last time Northwestern won a Big Ten tournament game, George W. Bush had approval ratings higher than Muammar Gaddafi, the iPod was just a dream and Northwestern was only in the news for it’s reputable academics. The lady ‘Cats defeated Minnesota 53-44 for its first win in the Big Ten Tournament in ten years.
Hero of the game | Kendall Hackney
Hackney’s near perfect performance at the free throw line may very well have been the ‘Cats saving Grace down the stretch. Shooting nine for ten behind the line, including four free throws in the last six minutes, Hackney pulled through the pressure and maintained the lead when the Gophers threatened to crawl back into the game. Hackney garnered 22 points total and her aggressive presence in the paint on both sides of the court kept the ball in the ‘Cats’ hands. Coach McKeown has stressed all year that this young sophomore needs to play like a junior and her performance tonight showed signs of maturity.
Stat of the game | 82 percent free throw shooting
The ‘Cats confidence from behind the line acted as a cushion that they could fall back on especially down the stretch. Missing one or two free throws in the last six minutes could have shifted momentum in the opposite direction, yet the ‘Cats managed to take advantage of every opportunity. Coach McKeown has emphasized his team’s ability to not only get to the line, but to capitalize when they are there, and the ‘Cats lived up to his compliments against Minnesota.
Turning point | Hackney’s six-point run down the stretch
With six minutes remaining, the Gophers started connecting from beyond the arc. Two three’s from China Antoine cut the ‘Cats lead down to one point. Hackney found composure at the free throw line and hit four three’s after two consecutive fouls. She then received a perfectly placed pass down low from Amy Jaeschke and connected through the double team. The Gophers still had a maintainable deficit but the ‘Cats received a clear shift in momentum. Hackney tipped the scales to start an 11-2 run to finish off the game. Her ability to maintain confidence under pressure kept the ‘Cats from tallying yet another year on the winless tournament streak.
Looking ahead
McKeown won’t be getting any favors for this historic win. Instead, the ‘Cats get awarded with a game against top-seeded Michigan State. The ‘Cats may have broken a decade-long streak, but their victory was not the prettiest in the room. With a 12-minute field goal drought and struggles getting the ball down low to Jaeschke, the ‘Cats need to figure out a way to pull together a full 40 minutes if they want to keep their tournament chances alive. At this stage, those chances are pretty straightforward; win the Big Ten Tourney and it’s dancing time. Lose, and it’s off to the WNIT.