INDIANAPOLIS – Four Northwestern freshmen combined for 77.6 percent of NU’s offense in Thursday’s 60-58 loss to Wisconsin, but it was junior Natalie Will’s defense that sparked the Wildcats when it counted.
That’s not to say she didn’t contribute offensively. Will’s nine points were key in the Cats’ balanced scoring attack. And she tallied three assists, two on dribble-drive penetrations that she kicked out to freshman Samantha McComb for crucial three-pointers in the final minutes.
Will was a force on the glass as well, grabbing five boards – two of them offensive – to tie freshman Suzanne Morrison for the team rebounding lead.
But it was Will’s scrappy defense that kept the Cats alive until the buzzer sounded.
When freshman Sarah Kwasinski fouled out with just more than two minutes to play and the Cats down by nine, it looked like the Badgers were poised to cruise to a convincing victory.
But then Morrison made a layup and was fouled, cutting the lead to seven. Morrison failed to convert the free throw, and Wisconsin center Emily Ashbaugh snatched the rebound.
As soon as Ashbaugh came down with the ball, Will tenaciously stole it and tossed an outlet pass to McComb. The freshman guard promptly drained a trey to bring the score to 57-53, bringing the Cats back into the contest.
“Of course I was looking for the steal,” Will said. “I mean, our season depended on it.”
Will’s role in the final minutes went beyond just that steal. A play later, she scored on a short jumper to cut the Badgers’ lead to two. And it was Will who took the final shot of the Cats’ season, a shot that – like NU’s attempts to win a Big Ten game this season – fell just short.
And while Will thought her shot was “right on” when she released it, she’s always had more confidence on the other side of the ball – she would rather be defending the last shot than taking it.
“Defense is more my game,” Will said. “It always has been. My defense carries on for others offensively.”
Will has played tough defense all season, finishing the 2001-02 campaign with a team-high 52 steals, but she was not as assertive on offense.
“I’m hoping Natalie takes that aggressive approach on offense next year,” NU head coach June Olkowski said. “She needs to play like (she did tonight) day in and day out. I think Natalie’s biggest obstacle is Natalie. She’s got to have a little bit of an attitude.”
But Will showed more emotion in Thursday night’s first-round Big Ten tournament game than in any other contest this season.
“I’m not trying to overlook (the last conference game of the season),” Will said after NU’s heartbreaking 63-59 loss to Michigan on Feb. 21. “But I’m really looking forward to the (Big Ten) tournament. We’re going to upset some teams.”
The Cats weren’t able to make good on Will’s promise, but Olkowski has some thoughts about how to help Will keep her word next year.
“I need to take her home to where I’m from in south Philly,” the coach said, “and maybe we can get her an attitude.”
