Most of the statistics told the tale of a Northwestern victory.
The Wildcats shot 43.8 percent from the field. They’ve shot more than 40 percent in five of their six victories this year.
NU recorded 20 assists to only 14 turnovers. Heading into Thursday, the Cats were 6-1 this year when they had more assists than turnovers.
But the most important statistic fell to Penn State (12-14, 6-9 Big Ten), as it edged the Cats on the scoreboard, 72-64.
NU (6-20, 2-13) made six more field goals than the Nittany Lions, but the home team more than made up the difference at the free-throw line.
The Cats were called for 13 more fouls than Penn State, and the Nittany Lions made 28 out of 38 free throws. NU made all of its free throws, but it attempted only five.
“That’s the game right there,” senior forward Ifeoma Okonkwo said. “They got to the free-throw line, we fouled and they got second chance points.”
This disparity became increasingly important down the stretch.
The Cats went on an 8-3 run over the course of 3:37 to take a one-point lead with 8:09 left in the game. Okonkwo scored all of NU’s points during this stretch.
Penn State built its lead back up to five with 5:05 to go and made seven out of 10 free throws to ice the game.
Sophomore guard Sara Stutz said foul trouble hindered the team’s ability to maintain momentum.
“It just prevented us from getting into a true flow and a good rhythm,” she said. “We would make a run, but then we’d get a foul called and it’d stop.”
Stutz and freshman Kristin Cartwright fouled out of the game and four other NU players ended the game with three or more fouls.
Penn State center Amanda Brown, who scored only four points the last time the two teams met, lit up the Cats for 25, including a 13-for-15 performance from the line.
“We missed some opportunities in letting her make some cuts,” NU coach Beth Combs said. “She’s just a player. She knows how to win ball games. I’m not sure if we could have done a whole lot different except to maybe limit some of her second-chance opportunities.”
Okonkwo kept pace with Brown, scoring 27 points in the loss. But she was alone in this offensive outburst, and was the only Cats player to score in double figures.
Stutz said the team was too hesitant on the offensive end.
“A lot of times we were passing up open shots,” she said. “We were all trying to make the extra pass and we didn’t look to shoot as much. Foamy was looking to score and obviously did a good job of that.”
Okonkwo also turned in four rebounds, five assists, four blocks and four steals in the loss.
The Wildcats will head to Minnesota on Sunday. In the last meeting between the teams, on Dec. 29, the Golden Gophers won 69-54.
Combs said the Cats’ performance against Penn State, a team they lost to by 43 a month ago, gives them momentum for the conference tournament, which starts Thursday.
“We need to build on this,” she said. “For us right now, it’s about the Big Ten tournament. We have an unbelievable opportunity to win a couple games. And that’s what we’re playing for now.”
Reach David Morrison at [email protected].
