Box Score in PDF Format

Box Score

DeKALB - The Northern Illinois women's basketball team took an early lead, but ultimately lost an 80-71 decision to Kent State, Saturday at the Convocation Center.

Junior Marke Freeman (Springfield, Ill./Lanphier) tallied her first career double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds, but the effort was not enough to fend off a second half push that improved the Golden Flashes to 6-2 in Mid-American Conference play, and 13-7 overall.

Kent State used a 7-0 burst early in the second period to take their first lead, 44-43, with 14:21 left. The teams held even until Jamilah Humes hit a jumper to ignite a 10-0 Kent State run and give the Golden Flashes the lead for good. Humes totaled a career-high 33 points, including 18 in the first half, to lead all scorers.

"Humes carried them, especially in the first half to keep it close," NIU head coach Carol Owens said. "She was the biggest difference in the game."

The Huskies, who fell to 2-6 in the MAC and 8-12 overall, started the game with an 11-2 run that included seven points by Freeman and four by Mauvolyene Adams (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook). But foul trouble limited Adams to just six minutes in the first period, and despite leading by 11 with 3:33 left in the half, Northern Illinois entered the locker room with a five point lead. 36-31.

The Golden Flashes got 20 second-half points from junior Taisja Jones to help their rally. The forward went 6-of-9 from the field and hurt NIU from the free throw line with 7-of-8 shooting. Jones wasn't the only second half spark for the Golden Flashes. Over the last 20 minutes, KSU shot 68.2 percent (15-of-22) from the field to score 49 points.

"I felt like we did a great job defensively taking them out of what they wanted to do," Owens said of the first half. "In the second half, we were on our heels. It was a change in who was the aggressor."

Though NIU led the battle of the boards 23-21 at halftime, Kent State finished the night with six more rebounds than the Huskies. Humes led KSU with nine, and Jones added six boards. Freeman led NIU on the glass for the first time in her career, and was followed by Sarah Rogers (Chicago, Ill./Marshall), who grabbed 10 rebounds.

"Rebounding was key [in the game]," Owens said. "The second chance opportunities Kent State had really hurt us."

The Golden Flashes ended the night with one fewer second-chance point than NIU, but still scored 14 to go with 28 points in the paint and 13 off turnovers.

The Huskies continue cross-divisional play at Bowling Green, Tuesday, February 2 at 6 p.m. (CDT). The game can be heard live on Huskie All-Access at www.niuhuskies.com and in DeKalb on 1360-AM WLBK.