Jitters clearly affected the Wildcats in the opening minutes of their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1997.

Neither No. 7 seed Northwestern (23-8, 12-6 Big Ten) nor No. 10 seed Arkansas (17-13, 6-10 SEC) seemed to be able to make a shot.

NU won the tip-off but was unable to capitalize, and Arkansas got on the board first with a long three. The Razorbacks gradually pulled ahead while NU struggled offensively.

Yet, the Cats clawed back and went on a 9-0 run to take an 11-9 lead with almost twelve minutes left to play.

From there, the teams traded baskets, neither able to gain any offensive momentum.

The Cats struggled with a relentless Arkansas defense, which alternated between high-pressure man-to-man and zone. With seven minutes left to play, Arkansas was out-rebounding and out-stealing the Cats.

NU began to shed their jitters and find their composure in the second part of the half, and with 5 minutes left to play the Cats were trailing by just one point. A minute later, the score was tied at 21.

Only sinking one field goal each in the final minutes, NU and Arkansas are tied at 23.

Sophomore Ashley Deary was all over the court, executing the aggressive play that has become so characteristic of the guard. She had 8 points, four rebounds and three steals,

Both teams struggled offensively. The shots just weren’t falling for NU, who shot 38.5 percent from the field and an uncharacteristic 20 percent from downtown.

Arkansas, hampered by NU’s high-tempo defense, shot just 25.8 percent from the field.

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