Jan. 17, 2007

Purdue Game Notes
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern hosts No. 12 Purdue Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats are in the middle of a six-game stretch that features four games against ranked opponents Purdue and Ohio State. After hosting the Boilermakers on Thursday, Northwestern faces Wisconsin Sunday in a rare noon bout which will be broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

"We are looking forward to our two-game home stand," head coach Beth Combs said. "It has been hard to play on the road but I feel good about where this team is headed. We are looking forward to Thursday because Purdue is a great team and that's what this game is about -- playing the best teams to lay it on the line."

Promotions: Thursday is "Start Wearing Purple Day." Fans who wear purple to the Wildcats' game vs. Purdue will be admitted for only $2.

Last Time Out ...
The Wildcats hung with No. 6 Ohio State early, but the Buckeyes proved to be too much, defeating Northwestern, 70-42, Sunday afternoon at Value City Arena. Julie Bielawski led the 'Cats with 11 points while Sara Stutz added 10.

Stutz opened the game by knocking down back-to-back 3 pointers on NU's first two possessions, giving the 'Cats early momentum. Northwestern rode that wave to an 8-0 run early, claiming an 11-6 advantage at the 16-minute mark.

The two teams made the most of every possession through the middle part of the half as Northwestern utilized nifty team passes to get on the board while the Buckeyes capitalized on individual efforts.

Ohio State went on a 16-4 run over the next 5:32 to close out the half with a 39-23 lead. Northwestern's defense forced seven Ohio State turnovers, while the 'Cats only committed five. Miller led NU with eight points at the break, while Stutz pulled down a Wildcat-high four boards in the first half.

Northwestern battled early in the second stanza, hoping to slowly chip away at the 16-point half time deficit. A.J. Glasauer hit the first two buckets of the half for the 'Cats, answering the Bucks' first two buckets. Bielawski nailed back-to-back jumpers on the next two possessions to cut the gap to 14 points, the closest NU would get for the rest of the game.

Kristin Cartwright pulled down a team-high six rebounds, while Stutz grabbed four. Kaitlin McInerney led NU with four assists.

Scouting the Boilermakers
Purdue brings a No. 12/14 ranking to Welsh-Ryan Arena, thanks to a 16-3 overall record and a perfect 5-0 mark in league play. The Boilermakers' three losses have come on the road against Big East foes Connecticut (66-55), Notre Dame (67-58) and Texas (64-61). The Boilers feature three players in double-figures in first-team All-Big Ten honoree Katie Gearlds (17.8), Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (14.3) and Erin Lawless (11.6). Wisdom-Hylton, a third-team All-Big Ten selection, leads the charge on the glass, pulling down 8.5 boards per outing. Purdue's mentor is first-year coach Sharon Versyp, who came to West Lafayette from intra-state rival Indiana. Versyp starred at Purdue from 1984-1988 where she earned All-Conference and All-American honors.

The Series with Purdue
Purdue holds a 34-18 advantage in the all-time series versus the 'Cats. The last time Northwestern bested the Boilers was on Feb. 21, 1997 when NU pulled out a 64-55 victory at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Score Early and Play Some "D"
Northwestern is 5-0 on the year when leading at the half. The Wildcats' are 6-2 when holding opponents to less than 70 points.

Playing the Best to be the Best
According to collegeRPI.com, Northwestern is playing the 38th strongest schedule in the country. The Wildcats' schedule includes six opponents in last season's AP top-25, and six that are currently in the top-25, or receiving votes. Three out of NU's next five opponents are ranked among the nation's top-25.

Taking Care of the Rock
Northwestern's 12 turnovers against the Buckeyes was the lowest of the season. The 'Cats forced a dozen OSU mishaps as well.

On the Upswing
The Wildcats' 67-53 victory over Princeton put the season win total at six, matching the win total for the entire 2005-06 year.

Is That Purple I See?
Yes. Head coach Beth Combs sported an unusual "new-do" for the Jan. 7 game vs. Iowa. Combs accepted a dare to dye her hair purple if there were 3,000 pre-sold tickets to Sunday's game. The goal was reached and Combs' hair was a lovely shade of violet.

Stutz Stepping Up
Junior Sara Stutz has consistently scored in double figures throughout the season, tallying double digits in 16 of NU's 18 games. She has started every game this season--and every game of the career--and is averaging a team-best 30.6 mpg. The Glenview, Ill., native is second on the team in scoring (12.4 ppg) and FG percentage (46 percent). Stutz has also dished out 47 assists.

Setting an Example
Northwestern's upperclassmen have led the 'Cats in scoring in 16 of 18 games so far this season. Senior captain A.J. Glasauer has led NU in scoring ten times, while junior Sara Stutz has been the top scorer six times. Fellow classmate Melissa Miller has topped the scoring column three times.

On the Big Stage
In the most recent NCAA stats (1/14/07), Northwestern ranks 18th in the nation in assists, averaging 17.3 per contest. A.J. Glasauer leads NU with 66 while Nadia Bibbs has dished out 59.

Click on the PDF atop for Thursday's complete game notes.

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