Nov. 22, 2009
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DeKALB - Led by a career-high 22 points by forward Mauvolyene Adams, the Northern Illinois women's basketball team defeated Southern Illinois, 74-65, Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
Adams (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) registered her fourth double-double in as many games this season, adding 10 rebounds to her game-leading point total. When the Salukis (0-3) had crept to within one point of NIU early in the second half, Adams answered by scoring the Huskies' next seven points.
Free throw shooting was also key in getting Northern Illinois off to a 3-1 start, its best since 2003-04. The Huskies got to the line 44 times, hitting 35 of their attempts (79.5 percent). Junior Marke Freeman (Springfield, Ill./Lanphier) led the charge from the charity stripe, hitting 13-of-14, including going 9-for-10 over the final five minutes to hold off the Salukis.
Southern Illinois was rabid out of the gate, leading by as many as nine points during the opening minutes. The Huskies bit back. After trailing 14-5, NIU freshman Shaakira Haywood (Canton, Mich./Plymouth) scored the first bucket of a 7-0 run that brought the Huskies within two points. From there, NIU chipped away until a pair of free throws by Terriel Cannon (Hillside, Ill./Proviso West) with 1:20 left in the first half gave NIU a permanent lead.
Northern Illinois entered the locker room with a one point edge, 30-29, but the Huskies 22 made free throws in the second half proved to be a major factor in the nine point victory.
Behind Adams, Freeman's performance at the free throw line helped her to 17 points, and junior Ebony Ellis (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Township) went 3-of-6 from the field and 6-of-9 on free throws to total 12 points. Ellis also chipped in with nine rebounds and two steals. Senior Kylie York (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) found her range, knocking down a trio of three-pointers to total nine point to go with her team-leading five assists.
Southern Illinois was led in scoring by Teri Oliver, who hit six three-pointers, including four in the last four minutes, on her way to 20 points. Senior Stephany Neptune followed with 14 points, and contributed 13 rebounds and nine assists. Ebony Crayton also landed in double-figures with 12.
The Huskies travel to the Wisconsin to face Milwaukee, Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game can be heard live through Huskie All-Access at www.niuhuskies.com and in DeKalb on 1360-AM WLBK.
