Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball

Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball
2024–25 Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball team
UniversityNorthwestern University
Head coachJoe McKeown (17th season)
ConferenceBig Ten
LocationEvanston, Illinois
ArenaWelsh-Ryan Arena
(capacity: 7,039)
NicknameWildcats
Student sectionWildside
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament second round
1980, 1987, 1991, 1993, 2021
NCAA tournament appearances
1982, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2015, 2021
AIAW tournament appearances
1979, 1980, 1981
Conference tournament champions
1990
Conference regular season champions
2020

The Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball team is the intercollegiate women's basketball program representing Northwestern University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Wildcats play home basketball games at Welsh-Ryan Arena on the university campus in Evanston, Illinois,[2] but played the 2017–18 season at Beardsley Gym on the nearby campus of Evanston Township High School during renovations to Welsh–Ryan Arena.[3]

History

Early years (1975–1984)

The Wildcats began play in women's basketball in 1975, with Mary DiStanislao as the first head coach, who coached for five seasons, with the final two resulting in appearances in the AIAW Tournament. In 1980, Annette Lynch took over as head coach, leading the team to postseason appearances (AIAW and NCAA) in her first two seasons, with the latter (1981) being the first season in the Big Ten Conference.

Don Perrelli era (1985–1999)

In 1984, Don Perrelli became head coach of the Wildcats. In his 15-year tenure, he led the team to 5 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, a Big Ten title in 1990 (with a 24–5 record, 15–3 conference record), and a NWIT appearance. Perrelli retired after the 1998–99 season.

Decline (1999–2008)

June Olkowski took over, coaching Northwestern for five seasons, but she was fired after finishing 10th or worse each time, never winning more than three conference games. Beth Combs was hired to coach the Wildcats in 2004, but she was fired after four seasons, highlighted with winning only 7 conference games in 4 years and never finishing higher than 10th place.

Joe McKeown era (2008–present)

Joe McKeown was hired for the 2008 season. After a 10th-place finish in his first season, they finished tied for 8th in the conference (good enough to qualify for the WNIT) the following season, their highest finish since the 1998 season. After appearing in the WNIT twice in the following four seasons, the Wildcats returned to the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament in 2015, their first appearance since 1997, in a season where they had their highest finish in the conference (1994) since 1996.[4]

All-Time Statistical Leaders

Career leaders

  • Points scored: 2,307 (Anucha Browne – 1982–85)
  • Assists: 892 (Nancy Kennelly – 1989–93)
  • Rebounds: 1183 (Nia Coffey – 2013-17)
  • Steals: 236 (Moira Kennelly – 1991–94)
  • Blocks: 357 (Amy Jaeschke – 2007–2011)

Single season leaders

  • Points scored: 855 (Anucha Browne – 1985)
  • Assists: 252 (Nancy Kennelly – 1991 and 1993)
  • Rebounds: 404 (Pallas Kunaiya-Akpanah – 2018-19)
  • Steals: 95 (Ashley Deary – 2014–15)
  • Blocks: 106 (Amy Jaeschke – 2009–10)

Single game leaders

  • Points scored: 45 (Anucha Browne vs. St. John’s – 1984)
  • Assists: 16 (Nancy Kennelly vs. Eastern Illinois – 1993)
  • Rebounds: 26 (Julie Calahan vs. Indiana – 1981)
  • Steals: 11 (Moira Kennelly vs. UW-Milwaukee – 1993)
  • Blocks: 10 (Amy Jaeschke vs. Chicago State – 2010)

Big Ten Medal of Honor

  • 1982 – Patience Vanderbush
  • 1985 – Anucha Browne
  • 1992 – Michele Savage
  • 1993 – Nancy Kennelly
  • 1997 – Michele Ratay
  • 1999 – Megan Chawansky

Coaching history

Coach Years Record Conference
Record		 Conference
Titles
Mary DiStanislao 1975–1980 75–42 0–0
Annette Lynch 1980–1984 89–30 32–15
Don Perrelli 1984–1999 251–181 135–126 1
June Olkowski 1999–2004 31–108 7–73
Beth Combs 2004–2008 24–95 7–59
Joe McKeown 2008–present 233-186 93–128 1
Totals 694–642 275–401 2

Postseason

NCAA Division I Women's Basketball tournament

The Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament eight times. They have a record of 4–7.

Year Round Opponent Result
1982 First Round North Carolina State L 73–71
1987 First Round
Second Round		 Kansas State
Louisiana Tech		 W 62–61 (OT)
L 82–60
1990 First Round South Carolina L 76–67
1991 First Round
Second Round		 Washington State
Arkansas		 W 82–62
L 105–68
1993 First Round
Second Round		 Georgia Tech
Tennessee		 W 90–62
L 89–66
1997 First Round George Washington L 61–46
2015 First Round Arkansas L 57–55
2021 First Round
Second Round		 UCF
Louisville		 W 62–51
L 62–53

NIT results

The Wildcats have appeared in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) five times, having a combined record of 10–5. They also appeared in the National Women's Invitational Tournament (the precursor to the WNIT, with 8 teams instead of the traditional 64 the WNIT has) once, having a record of 2–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1996 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		 Illinois State
Louisiana State
Arizona		 W 93–71
W 79–75
L 79–63
2010 First Round
Second Round
Third Round		 Duquesne
St. Bonaventure
Michigan		 W 79–72
W 66–62
L 65–44
2011 First Round
Second Round		 Creighton
Alabama		 W 89–63
L 72–70
2014 First Round
Second Round
Third Round		 Ball State
IUPUI
Indiana		 W 69–55
W 88–52
L 66–65
2016 First Round San Diego L 69–55
2019 First Round
Second Round
Third Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		 Dayton
Toledo
West Virginia
Ohio
James Madison
Arizona		 W 74–51
W 54-47
W 56-54
W 61-58
W 74-69
L 56-42

AIAW Women's Basketball tournament

The Wildcats appeared in the AIAW women's basketball tournament (the precursor to the modern NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship) three times (the first being in a 16 team tournament and the latter two being in a 24 team tournament) before it was discontinued in 1982. They compiled a record of 1–3. They received a bye in 1980.

Year Round Opponent Result
1979 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Southern Connecticut State
Louisiana Tech		 W 67–61
L 88–52
1980 Second Round South Carolina L 64–61
1981 First Round Stephen F. Austin L 88–67

References

  1. ^ "Northwestern University's Guide to Using Marks, Colors, Trademarks, and Logos" (PDF). September 21, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  2. ^ "NU Sports". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  3. ^ "Evanston's Beardsley Gym to Host Women's Hoops, Volleyball in 2017–18" (Press release). Northwestern Wildcats. January 25, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  4. ^ "Northwestern Basketball 2015-16 Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016.