The ‘Cats lost another tough road game against No. 10-ranked Michigan State 74-60, leaving just two more regular season games and the Big Ten tournament to turn around their postseason chances. The Spartans simply proved to be the better team down the stretch in this ranked-versus-unranked contest. The loss puts Northwestern at 16-11 overall and 5-9 in conference, sealing up a sub-.500 conference record. NU faces Minnesota in a must-win game at Welsh-Ryan arena next Sunday on Senior Day.
Hero of the game | Amy Jaeschke
Once again, the All-American center proved her worth as a top draft prospect in the coming WNBA draft. Unfortunately, she has proved once again that one person alone can’t dish out a win. Her 25 points weren’t enough to compensate for the lack of outside shooting. With six rebounds, all defensive, it did not help that the ‘Cats struggled to get second chances in the paint.
Stat of the game | Michigan State’s 45 rebounds
The most obvious aspect of basketball is that ball possession is key to scoring. Michigan State dominated the possession in transition by outrebounding the ‘Cats by 16. Even more unusual was the fact that the Spartans had more offensive rebounds than defensive, splitting 23-22. With 23 opportunities to get second chances along with a reset of the shot clock, Michigan State had too many opportunities to run out the clock and score.
Turning point | 14-4 run in last three and a half minutes
For all intents and purposes, the ‘Cats put up a valiant fight against the No. 1-ranked Big Ten team, even leading by three at the half. The difference lay in the ‘Cats inability to finish. Down the stretch, it became clear that a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar court were too much for the ‘Cats to handle. This run is symbolic of the difference between a ranked team that has NCAA tournament experience, and an up-and-coming team with only one postseason appearance under their belt.
What to improve on | Three point shooting
Success beyond the arc — or lack thereof — has been a recurring theme this season for the ‘Cats. Once again, they struggled to connect from three-point range, shooting 16.7 percent. The rim pulled a shutout against senior Beth Marshall as she shot 0-for-4. The lopsided statistics of a center scoring 25 points and a three-point presence that yields only six points proves just how important an outside game can be to a team’s success.