Jan. 20, 2010
Final Stats
Box Score in PDF Format 
DeKALB, Ill. - Sophomores Bianca Brown and Sarah Rogers totaled career-highs as the Northern Illinois women's basketball team lost an 89-74 decision to Central Michigan, Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.
Brown (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) scored eight of her total 10 points in the first half, and finished the night hitting 5-of-9 shots from the field with four rebounds. Rogers (Chicago, Ill./Marshall) tallied a career-high for the second straight game, outdoing her 13-point performance at Eastern Michigan with a 14-point night. Rogers also hit 5-of-9 from the field, and added eight rebounds and five assists.
Northern Illinois fell to 7-10 overall and 1-4 in Mid-American Conference play with the loss. The Chippewas went to 6-11, and improved to 3-2 in MAC play.
"We're very disappointed in this loss," NIU head coach Carol Owens said. "I felt the energy was not there."
The Huskies overcame a 14-point first half deficit to lead by three at half time. They took the lead when Rogers grabbed a defensive rebound with 10 seconds to go and got fouled on a last-second three-point attempt. She hit all three free throws to give NIU a 39-36 advantage.
A back-and-forth second half saw Northern Illinois take the lead by as many as 10 points on a three-point play by Terriel Cannon (Hillside, Ill./Proviso West). The Chippewas answered with a 14-0 run capped by a Shonda Long three-pointer to take control of the game with a four-point lead they would not relinquish.
"This game changed because of defense," Owens said. "We took the lead at the half, but we can't dig ourselves out of a hole every game."
The Huskies allowed the most points they have all season, as Central Michigan shot 41.7 percent (30-of-63) from the floor and hit 7-of-18 three-pointers (38.9 percent). The Chippewas were led by Kaihla Szunko with 24 points and 14 rebounds, both game highs. Long added 20 points, including hitting 10 of her 11 tries from the free throw line.
Northern Illinois had one of its best nights in terms of a balanced attack. The Huskies had four players score in double-figures, with Marke Freeman (Springfield, Ill./Lanphier) leading the way with 15, and Courtney Shelton (Rockford, Ill./Hononegah) scoring 11 in addition to Brown and Rogers' outputs.
The Huskies complete a stand of four out of five games at home when they host Buffalo, Saturday at 2 p.m. The game is Alumni Day, as well as Take A Kid to the Game Day, when any adult purchasing a general admission ticket can receive a free youth ticket.
