It was clear that Wisconsin had the edge on Sunday when it came to having an inside game.
But one player on the Northwestern women’s basketball team was able to muscle her way through the lane in the Wildcats’ loss.
That player was 5-foot-10 Ifeoma Okonkwo, who scored 12 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. The sophomore is averaging 10.6 points per game this year and leads the Cats (7-11, 0-7 Big Ten) in total points and rebounds.
But Okonkwo wasn’t always such a force under the basket.
As a true freshman, Okonkwo started her first two games with the Cats. She then lost her starting spot because of inexperience, but was able to regain it and showed improvement toward the end of last season.
“I feel that I’ve improved in being a starting player, going strong to the basket and grabbing rebounds,” Okonkwo said. “The first time I played, the transition from high school to college seemed so fast.
“But I’m used to that now.”
NU coach June Olkowski insists that Okonkwo is the best athlete on the court, no matter who the Cats are facing.
Despite posting big numbers, the emerging player is still a work-in-progress, Olkowski said.
“I think the hardest part is to get Ifeoma to see how important her steady influence is needed, game-in and game-out,” Olkowski said. “She’s more stable as a player, but there are times where, mentally, she takes a couple plays off.
“We have to get her to the point where she’s not taking those plays off.”
HITTIN’ THE BOARDS: Before the start of the 2003-04 season, Olkowski was quick to emphasize that rebounds could play a big part in helping the team win conference games.
And as NU’s rebounding woes continued against the Badgers on Sunday — Wisconsin dominated 43-26 — the Cats secured an 0-7 record in the Big Ten.
“We do rebounding drills every day, ” Olkowski said. “There hasn’t been a day where we haven’t had an emphasis on rebounding.
“The only thing that we can do is to continue having that be an emphasis.”
The Cats have been outrebounded by their opponents 36.7-30.8 per game this year.
But the recent return of center Sarah Kwasinski, who’s coming off multiple injuries, could play a part in establishing a better game down low.
LIGHTS, CAMERA: The Cats have been getting a little extra media coverage lately.
NU’s last two games, contests against Michigan State and Wisconsin, could be seen on Fox SportsNet Chicago, the regional channel for local sports coverage.
“It’s fun being on TV, because my family lives around here and a lot of them can see it,” said freshman Breanne Smilie, who is from nearby Elk Grove, Ill. “But I don’t get nervous.
“You really don’t notice it until after the game, when people start calling you.”
With digital cable or satellite television, the broadcasts gave out-of-town fans a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Cats.
“I’m from Houston, but my parents have digital cable,” Okonkwo said. “I tell my parents that I’m playing on TV because they don’t get a chance to see me play very often.”
NU is looking forward to making another television appearance this season. The next televised game would be an ESPN2 broadcast if the Cats reach the Big Ten tournament finals in March.
