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Ebony Ellis recorded 17 points and nine rebounds.

Women's Basketball

NIU Drops a 71-61 Decision To UW-Milwaukee

Nov. 29, 2008

Final Stats

UWM 71, NIU 61 Final Box Get Acrobat Reader

DEKALB, Ill. -The NIU women's basketball team suffered a 71-61 loss at the hands on Milwaukee Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.

Three Panthers (3-2) finished in double figures with Traci Edwards leading all scorers with 21 points and won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Huskies, 36-25, including 17 offensive boards. Milwaukee went 4-6 from three-point territory and 21-31 from the free throw, while the Huskies (2-4) went 1-8 from beyond the arc and 14-16 from the charity stripe.

"This is a disappointing loss," NIU head coach Carol Owens said. "I felt we took care of the ball, but we gave up 17 offensive rebounds. Giving up that many offensive rebounds can kill a team in terms of them making a run."

The first half was a see-saw affair, with 10 lead changes. NIU led 20-15, its largest lead on the game, with 6:48 left in the first period, but the Panthers were able to tie it at 20 with five and a half minutes left in the half. The two teams played to a 33-33 tie after the first half of play.

Milwaukee tried to pull away in the second half, but Northern Illinois kept the pressure on staying within striking distance. However, with Milwaukee leading 42-41 with 13:59 left to play, the Panthers put together a 14-6 stretch and opened up a 56-47 lead with 8:25 left in the game. Milwaukee extended its lead to 13, 64-51, with 4:19 left to play, and NIU was unable to recover. The Huskies did pull to within nine with 2:19 left, but was unable to mount a comeback.

Three Huskies finished in double figures, with Ebony Ellis (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Township) leading the way with 17 points, tying a career high for the sophomore center. She also had a game-high nine rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Mauvolyene Adams (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) turned in a season-high 13 points, while senior Shari' Welton added 10.

"I don't worry about Mauvolyene being ready to play," Owens said. "She gave us a huge spark in the first half and even in the second half."

The Huskies return to the floor Wednesday when NIU travels to Des Moines, Iowa to face Northern Iowa in a matinee. Tip off is set for 12 p.m.

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