January 5, 1999

EVANSTON, Ill. - Senior guard Megan Chawansky (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake) led a Northwestern rally late in the second half that brought the Wildcats from 13 points down (65-52 at the 6:29 mark) to only one point down (65-64 with 2:04 remaining), but Michigan State held on for a 73-64 victory at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Chawansky scored eight points during NU's run and finished with game-highs of 24 points, seven assists and five steals.

The Spartans (7-5, 1-1 Big Ten) had their way inside early. They only trailed once throughout the entire game and that was 2-0 at 19:08 of the first half. Junior forward Kristen Rasmussen had 12 points and sophomore center Erin Skelly scored a season-high 10 points in the first half to put MSU on top, 36-29 at the half. Junior guard Maxann Reese gained the hot hand in the second half. After being held to only two points during the first 20 minutes, Reese started hitting from the outside and tallied nine of the Spartan's first 14 points in the second half.

MSU took its greatest lead of the game, 57-44 at the 10:16 mark and then again with 6:29 left to play. That's when Northwestern began its rally. Down by a point with 1:38 remaining in the game, junior forward Leslie Schock (Elgin, Ill./Elgin) missed a free throw that would have tied the game. The Wildcats were forced to foul and the Spartans made six-of-seven free throws down the stretch. Reese led Michigan State with 20 points, while Rasmussen totaled 16 markers. The Wildcats (7-5, 1-1 Big Ten) got 14 points and eight rebounds from Schock. Sophomore point guard Dana Leonard (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) finished with 12 points.

Northwestern will host Illinois at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10, in its next game.