Feb. 24, 2009

GALLERY

Final Stats |  Quotes

Final Box

DeKalb, Ill. - In a game that saw 12 ties and 13 lead changes, the Northern Illinois University women's basketball team fell to Toledo, 72-68, Tuesday night in the Convocation Center.

"We were very disappointed in the game because we had a lot of chances to take control," NIU head coach Carol Owens. "We had 16 turnovers in the first half. We didn't play our best. I don't know if we were nervous or excited."

With the score tied at 63-63 with 3:42 left to play, the 12th tie of the game, Toledo's (16-10, 10-3) Naama Shafir drove the lane and made a layup to give the Rockets a two-point lead. One they would not relinquish. Shafir took over the game from that point on, scoring seven of Toledo's final nine points of the game, en route to a game-high 17 points. She was one of four Rockets to finish in double figures.

The Huskies (13-13, 8-5) were within two, down 70-68 with 36 seconds left to play, but were unable to come up with a defensive stop on the final Toledo possession. Courtney Ingersoll scored on a layup, giving Toledo a four-point advantage with 20 seconds left to play.

The two teams were evenly matched offensively, with NIU out-shooting Toledo by the slightest margin, 48 percent to 47.5 percent. However, the Rockets shot better from three-point territory connecting on 57.1 percent of their shots, going 8-of-14 from beyond the arc, while Northern Illinois shot 43.8 percent from three-point land, hitting 7-of-16.

Turnovers and free throw shooting also plagued the Huskies for a second-straight game. NIU committed 25 turnovers and went 13-for-20 from the free throw line, missing some freebies down the stretch.

"We had opportunities to come back in the game, we took a lead, but we had crucial turnovers and missed some key free throws," Owens said. "We had opportunities at the free throw line and we didn't take advantage of it."

Northern Illinois had three players finish in double digits with Marke Freeman (Springfield, Ill./Lanphier) leading the way with 16 points. Aileen Rossouw (Plano, Texas/Plano) posted her second straight double double, the second of her career, with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Jessie Wilcox (Oshkosh, Wis./West) finished with 10 points.

Tuesday night was NIU's Pink Zone game. The WBCA Pink Zone initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The DeKalb and NIU community did not disappoint in showing their support as 1,262 fans turned out wearing their pink.

"I thought it was a good turnout for a great event," Owens said. "It was our Pink Zone game, the first opportunity we've had to have this with the proceeds going to the Kay Yow Foundation. I want to thank everyone who came out and supported us and this cause."

The Huskies return to the court Saturday when the Huskies welcome Central Michigan to the Convocation Center for Senior Day. Tip off is set for 5 p.m. For tickets, contact the NIU ticket office at 815-752-6800 or log on to www.niuhuskies.com. Fans can also follow NIU live on 1360 WLBK with play-by-play announcer Bill Baker and color analyst and via Gametracker at www.niuhuskies.com.

-NIU-