Jan. 18, 2013

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Northwestern (8-9, 0-4 Big Ten)
at Illinois (10-7, 3-2 Big Ten)
Sunday, Jan. 20 • 2 p.m.
Assembly Hall (Champaign, Ill.)
Live Video: Big Ten Digital Network on Wildcats All-Access
Live Audio: WNUR, 89.3 FM (www.wnur.org)
Gametracker: NUsports.com
In-Game Tweets: @NU_SportsLIVE

NU vs. Illinois Game Notes

SUNDAY’S GAME
For the second time in 11 days, Northwestern will meet in-state rival Illinois on the hardwood. The Wildcats and Illini last met Jan. 10 in Evanston and play again Sunday at 2 p.m. in Champaign. This is the fifth Big Ten game of the season for the ’Cats while the Illini already have played five conference games.

LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern came up short against No. 25 Michigan in a 67-53 loss Thursday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Despite coming close several times during the game, the ‘Cats were unable to cut the deficit. The Wolverines were the third ranked opponent NU has faced this season.

NU senior forward Kendall Hackney led the team with 18 points. Sophomore guard Karly Roser was not far behind with 12 points along with four rebounds and six assists. Freshman forward Maggie Lyon also had six assists and eight points. Sophomore forward Alex Cohen produced seven rebounds and a career-high four assists in 21 minutes off the bench.

Michigan’s Kate Thompson did most of the damage Thursday night, leading all scorers with 23 points, including all seven of the Wolverines’ 3-pointers (7-of-10).

UPCOMING MILESTONES
Senior forward Kendall Hackney recently entered the NU record book in career scoring as she is currently in 10th with 1,385 career points. She needs 115 more points to reach the 1,500-point milestone and 148 more points would tie her for ninth all-time with Amy Prichard, who had 1,533 points from 1980-83. Hackney also moved into sixth place all-time in 3-point field goals with 132.

Several Wildcats are approaching significant statistical milestones:

Name	Milestone	Has	Needs
Dannielle Diamant	500 rebounds	481	19
	900 points	813	87
	100 assists	97	3
	100 games played	95	5
Kendall Hackney	1,500 points	1,385	115
	700 rebounds	629	71
	200 assists	151	49
Karly Roser	500 points	412	88
	250 assists	249	1

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Sophomore point guard Karly Roser was thrown into the fire from day one as a freshman in 2011-12 and has seen her production increase during her second year with the ’Cats. Roser has started every single game (47) for NU the last two seasons and has been on the court 83.9 percent of the time, playing 1,577 minutes of a possible 1,880 minutes.

Roser has seen her numbers go up in points, rebounds and assists this year, but her minutes have stayed mostly the same. Here’s a look at her averages the last two years:

Year	Min/Game	PPG	RPG	APG
2011-12	33.4	8.0	3.3	4.7
2012-13	33.8	10.2	5.2	6.3
Career	33.6	8.8	4.0	5.3

OPPONENT PROFILE: ILLINOIS
2012-13 Record: 10-7, 3-2 B1G
All-Time Series Record: NU leads 34-33
Of Note: Illinois has played two games since facing NU on Jan. 10 and went 1-1, falling in a narrow 79-75 loss to Michigan State and then defeating Nebraska on its home court, 62-52. The Illini rank third in the conference in scoring offense, averaging 72.2 points per game. On the other hand, they also allow the most points in the Big Ten, ranking 12th as opponents score 67.1 points per game.

Senior Karisma Penn continues to be one of the biggest offensive threats in the conference, averaging 18.8 points per game, which ties for fourth. She also leads the league in rebounding, averaging 10.6 per game, including a Big Ten-best 4.4 offensive rebounds.

On Thursday against Nebraska, senior guard Adrienne GodBold led all scorers with 19 points in 25 minutes while Penn had 12 points and 18 rebounds, including a career-high 10 offensive rebounds.

UP NEXT
NU stays out on the road, traveling to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on No. 12/11 Purdue Thursday, Jan. 24. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and the game will air live on the Big Ten Network.

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