Before the season, coach Joe McKeown pointed to freshman forward Kendall Hackney as one of the keys to Northwestern’s success. The Wildcats’ last two games have proven the coach’s foresight correct.
Against Wisconsin, Hackney exploded for 14 points and six rebounds in the second half, leading the way to a 68-62 win.
In Thursday’s win over Michigan, the 2009 Miss Ohio Basketball winner led the team with 18 points.
“To play in this league as a freshman and to go through an 18-game schedule is hard,” McKeown said. “It’s physically hard, it’s draining, and she’s starting to come out of that a little bit.”
With two minutes left in the game and NU up by two points, Hackney pulled down a rebound in the low post. She was quickly swarmed by a pair of Wolverines, and with all her teammates running up the floor, Hackney had to hold onto the ball. She tried a pass, but it was deflected, and Michigan took possession. Guard Veronica Hicks nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing, and the Wolverines took the lead.
But Hackney wasn’t fazed.
On Michigan’s next possession, forward Carmen Reynolds wound up for a wide-open 3, but before she could get the shot off, Hackney swooped in and got a hand on the ball.
“I’ve been trying to train myself when I make a turnover to get it back on defense so I don’t get frustrated with myself,” Hackney said. “Last time I played at Michigan, (Hicks) made two 3s in my face so I was like, ‘That’s not happening ever again.’ I saw (Reynolds) in the corner of my eye, and we just rotated.”
The game remained close, and with two seconds left Hackney was fouled after grabbing a defensive rebound. NU held a three-point advantage, which wouldn’t suffice against a Wolverines squad that shoots the second-most 3s in the Big Ten. Hackney nailed the first free throw to keep the game out of reach.
“Because (Hackney is) such a smart player, some days I probably forget she’s a freshman,” McKeown said. “She’ll do some things that will drive you crazy, but she’s a great competitor. … She made that great block at the end of the game. She’ll just help you win a game. She’s not a kid that cares how many points she has.”
Hackney was especially helpful in the first half, when leading scorer Amy Jaeschke was struggling from the floor. While Jaeschke finished the half 2-for-10 with six points, Hackney went 4-for-6 with 10 points.
On the season Hackney is shooting 44 percent, the second-highest for a freshman in the conference.
“(Hackney) is really a terrific scorer,” McKeown said. “Amy last year was double-teamed everywhere, so with her and Beth (Marshall), it gives us two players who can make open shots.”
All this production is coming from a player who McKeown didn’t know would be on his team until last May. Hackney originally committed to USC, but she re-opened her recruitment after Trojans coach Mark Trakh resigned. Thus far Hackney has been a welcome addition.
“When you doubled us last year, there were just games that we shot bricks,” McKeown said. “Kendall brings that offensive potential.”[email protected]
