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BSE: 'Cats defeat UIC in a late-inning thriller
By Max Gelman
Northwestern (10-24, 3-6) ended the game with a bang, winning a nail-biter against the UIC Flames (16-14-1, 11-4) on Wednesday, 4-3.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, UIC was down a by a run after cutting their deficit to one.
With two outs and runners on first and second, UIC third baseman Mickey McDonald singled up the middle. Wildcat center fielder Kyle Ruchim fielded the ball cleanly and, seeing Flames runner Tyler Detmer rounding third base, gunned the ball to home plate. Catcher Scott Heelan caught the ball on the fly and tagged out Detmer in front of the plate, clinching the win for the Wildcats.
Joe Hoscheit, who started the game at DH, got the win in relief. Jake Stolley closed out the game and got the save.
NU pushed across the first run of the game in the top half of the third, when first baseman Zach Jones chopped an infield single. Flames pitcher Jack Andersen came off the mound and, bobbling the ball, failed to make a play at the plate with Connor Lind charging hard.
UIC took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, when first baseman Alex Lee singled home Detmer with one out, and catcher Gabe Dwyer drew a four-pitch walk with the bases loaded. Both runs were charged to sophomore Pete Hoffman, who entered the game in relief at the start of the inning.
The Cats regained the lead in the top of the eighth after their bats remained largely silent since their first run. NU loaded the bases with no one out, and with Heelan at the plate, Antonio Freschet scored after a passed ball by Dwyer. Following a Joe Hoscheit strikeout, Reed Hunter lined a pinch-hit single to right field on the first pitch, driving in Kyle Ruchim and Jones, giving the Cats a 4-2 lead.
The Flames got back a run in the bottom of the ninth. After getting the first two men on base, reliever Jake Stolley retired the next two batters with a lineout and flyout but surrendered an RBI single to Lee. NU ended the game on the next play with Ruchim’s throw.
A trip to Iowa City is next up for the Cats, who will try to extend their winning streak to two games. The series begins on Friday at 6 p.m.
NNN Sports Weekend Recap: April 10-12, 2015
Producer Axel Boada with a recap of this past weekend in Northwestern sports.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlr5ieYF5tw
Chicago's Chuy Garcia: "We didn't Lose Today; We Tried Today."
Jesus Chuy Garcia lost to incumbent mayor Rahm Emanuel. Reporter Orko Manna was at his concession speech.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel Wins Second Term
Mayor Rahm Emanuel won his second term as Chicago Mayor. Reporter Omar Jimenez heard his victory speech Tuesday night.
Northwestern season over: falls to Indiana in second round of B1G Tournament
Final Score: Indiana, 71, Northwestern, 56
James Blackmon Jr. and Yogi Ferrell clearly did not forget the 72-65 loss to the ‘Cats on Feb. 25. The two guards combined for 42 points, leading No. 7 Indiana to a 71-56 victory over No. 10 Northwestern in the second round of the B1G Tournament.
“We felt like we owed them one,” Blackmon Jr. said. “We learned a lot from the film and knew what we had to do to win. Now we’re just ready for [Maryland] tomorrow.”
After a Sanjay Lumpkin bucket at 18:40 in the first frame, NU went cold. The ‘Cats went scoreless for nearly 10 minutes until Nate Taphorn buried a triple at the nine-minute mark. Indiana went on a 21-1 run and led by as much as 18 in the first half.
Bryant McIntosh, who finished the night with 13 points and 5 assists, said the Indiana defense limited their opportunities by knocking their ball screens back to the baseline.
“They were taking us away from the scoring area,” McIntosh said. “It gave them time to rotate with help-side defense. You can’t play offense 35 feet [from the basket].”
The standout statistic was rebounding: Indiana out rebounded Northwestern 42-25, hauled in 22 offensive boards and scored 20 second-chance points.
“Their physicality knocked us back,” Chris Collins said. “The proof is in the pudding– with [their] offensive rebounds and points in the paint.”
As a team, Indiana was not extremely efficient, hitting 27-65 field goals (41.5 percent), but the duo of Blackmon and Ferrell picked up the slack. Blackmon netted 25 points (8-15 FG, 5-10 3pt), six rebounds and seven assists. Ferrell added 17 points and five dimes.
“We went out there and created our own energy,” Ferrell said. “We got rolling off of one another, and then everybody [started] playing together– we all looked really good.”
Collins subbed out seniors JerShon Cobb and Dave Sobolewski in the final minutes, and the players struggled to hold back tears as they hugged their fellow teammates.
“I thanked them for their belief in me and our staff…[for] not jumping ship and going to another school,” Collins said. “They’ve laid the foundation for where our program is headed. They’ve been great representatives of not only our basketball program, but also our school.”
The loss ends NU’s up-and-down 15-17 (6-12 B1G) year that was highlighted by a 10-game conference losing streak and two late-season overtime wins over Iowa and Michigan.
The ‘Cats may receive a bid to play in the College Basketball Invitational, but Collins said the team will respectfully decline.
“It’s time for us to get ready for next year,” Collins said. “It’s time for our guys to get some rest, and then we need to get to work…It’s time to put this season to bed, get our legs underneath us and get ready for the future.”
– Noah Fromson, NNN Sports
B1G Tournament Halftime Notes: Northwestern vs. Indiana
Halftime Score: Indiana, 36, Northwestern, 22
The game started with back-to-back triples from IU’s Robert Johnson and Vic Law, but Indiana stayed hot going 3-5 from distance as they jumped out to a 12-6 lead after seven minutes of play.
After a Lumpkin bucket at 18:40, NU had an almost 10-minute scoring drought that was finally broken by Nate Taphorn at the nine-minute mark. IU went on a 21-1 run during the cold spell. It didn’t get much better after that as NU finished 8-24 (28.6%) at the break.
Indiana shot 14-35 (33.3%) from the floor and 6-18 (33.3%) from 3pt range. James Blackmon Jr. and Yogi Ferrell scorched NU’s defense– the two combined for 23 of the team’s 36 total first-half points. The Hoosier’s biggest lead of the half was 18 points.
The standout statistic of the first half was rebounding: Indiana out rebounded Northwestern 25-14 and scored 11 second-chance points.
– Noah Fromson, NNN Sports
Wildcats Start Off 2nd Half Hot To Claim Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal Victory
By Greg Mroz
Hoffman Estates, Ill – As has been their trademark in many games this season, Northwestern got down early and trailed by ten going into halftime. Yet as they have throughout the whole year, the Wildcats found a way to win by dominating the second half.
Five different Wildcats scored in double figures as 4th seeded Northwestern started the 2nd half on a 21-4 run to win their quarterfinal matchup with 5th seeded Rutgers 62-57 at the Sears Centre. Ashley Deary, who did not attempt a shot in the first half, went 5-7 in the 2nd half with 12 points to go along with 4 steals.
“Great second half by us, really proud of our team the way they responded at half time.” Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown said. “Once we took the lead, I thought we played with a lot of poise”
Out of the break, the Wildcats came out of the gate hot, starting with a 7-0 run that prompted Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer to call a time out just over a minute and a half into the second period. Northwestern turned it into an 11-2 run to make it 39-38 Rutgers. From there the run grew even more, as sophomore Ashley Deary stepped it up with three weaving layups that gave Northwestern a 44-39 lead. The Wildcats continued to push, with the run growing to 21-4 and the lead to 48-41 with 12 minutes left. After that, Northwestern just continued to dominate.
“What we were focusing on going into the second half was our defensive pressure and we knew shots would fall.” Northwestern junior guard Maggie Lyon said. Lyon lead all Northwestern scorers with 15 points on 4-12 shooting.
The Scarlet Knights made a late charge to get it to 61-54, but on a breakaway Ariel Butts was called for a charge with 35 seconds left, giving Northwestern the ball and icing the game for Northwestern.
“We know what we’re capable of when we play together” Sophomore forward Nia Coffey said. “We have to make sure to maintain that mental stability and we’ll be successful.”
Foul trouble proved to be costly for Rutgers all day long, as the Scarlet Knights had three different players with 3 or more fouls at the end of the first half. By the game’s conclusion, Rutgers had committed 26 total fouls, with four players receiving four fouls or more. Kahleah Coppper lead the Scarlet Knights with 14 points, although 12 of them came in the first half.
“I liked the way we played defense” Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer stated. “With the foul situation as it was, it was difficult to sustain.”
Northwestern’s next challenge will come tomorrow against the 1st seeded Maryland Terrapins, the team they lost to 69-48 on Sunday. That game does not matter now, because for the Wildcats, the Big Ten Tournament represents a brand new opportunity.
“I think we are going to come out a whole different team.” Sophomore guard Ashley Deary said. “We want to win the Big Ten championship and that’s our goal. There’s not going to be a team that’s going to stop us from doing that. ”
“Whether you win by one or 10, you just want to move on” McKeown added later.
With the way they are playing, the goal of winning the Big Ten Tournament title is well within reach. If you can find a way to come back being down ten to one of the best defensive teams in the country, anything is possible.
FINAL: Northwestern 62 Rutgers 57
By Greg Mroz
Hoffman Estates, Ill
Rapid Reaction to Northwestern’s 62-57 victory over Rutgers.
Starting the 2nd Half Hot
Often when a team is down by ten at halftime, the immediate start to the second half is the best and only opportunity to get back in the game. The Wildcats took full advantage of this, going on a 21-4 run to start the second half. After not attempting a shot in the first half, Ashley Deary went 5-7 scoring 12 points and being extremely active on the defensive end. Northwestern started the half 12-18 from the field while Rutgers was 4-17 during the same span.
Defensive Pressure
Northwestern’s patented “Blizzard” zone forced Rutgers to the perimeter, and without center Rachel Hollivay, the Scarlet Knights had no legitimate interior threat. The Scarlet Knights struggled to make shots, and had choppy ball movement the entire second half. Kahleah Copper scored 12 in the first half for Rutgers, but was silent in the 2nd half, managing only two more points. It may have been one of the best halves of basketball on the defensive end for Northwestern all season.
Halftime Reaction: Rutgers 37, Northwestern 27
By Greg Mroz
Hoffman Estates, Ill – Here is a recap of the first half of Northwestern’s Big Ten Tournament game against Rutgers.
1. Turnovers
This has been a big problem for the Wildcats in the past, and it proved to be huge in the first half. Northwestern turned the ball over 14 times and just looked all around sloppy. Rutgers is a much more physical tea on the defensive end which may be a part of it, but the Wildcats have to be better handling the rock in the second half.
2. Rutgers Foul Trouble
While the Scarlet Knights for the most part outplayed the Wildcats in the first half, it came at a price. Kahleah Copper exited with two fouls relatively early in the half, and Ariel Butts, Tyler Scaife, and Syessence Davis picked up three personals. With Rachel Hollivay more than likely out of the game with an injury, bodies could become an issue for Rutgers down the stretch.
3. Offensive Opportunities
Northwestern went on a 12-2 run late in the first half, but the Wildcats have not had many chances to shoot the ball. The Wildcats finished the first half 7-21 from the field, going 1-6 from beyond the arch. At the line, Northwestern went 12-17, which in a tight game like this could prove critical down the stretch.