Jan. 8, 2011
Box Score | Box Score 
NIU 61, CMU 67
McGuirk Arena | Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
|
|
|
1st |
2nd |
Final |
Northern Illinois
|
25 |
36 |
61 |
Central Michigan
|
31 |
36 |
67 |
|
|
|
| Player of the Game |
 |
Kim Davis
Points: 12
Rebounds: 13
Assists: 2
FG: 5-11 (.455)
|
|
Team Stats
|
NIU |
OPP |
FG Percentage
|
39.3 |
39.0 |
| 3-Point FG Percentage |
30.8 |
20.0 |
| FT Percentage |
65.0 |
70.8 |
Offensive Rebounds
|
14 |
11 |
| Defensive Rebounds |
29 |
23 |
| Total Rebounds |
43 |
34 |
Assists
|
9 |
10 |
Turnovers
|
23 |
13 |
Blocks
|
0 |
3 |
Steals
|
3 |
11 |
Points in the Paint
|
34 |
32 |
Points off Turnovers
|
16 |
23 |
|
|
| |
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Senior
Marke Freeman scored 12 points, becoming the 26th member of the Northern Illinois women's basketball 1,000-Point Club, as the Huskies fell 67-61 to Central Michigan, Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
The Huskies (6-9, 0-2 Mid-American Conference) held the Chippewas (10-4, 2-0 MAC) to its lowest scoring output of the season, but couldn't overcome 23 turnovers in the loss.
A season-high four Huskies scored in double figures. Kim Davis and Freeman led the way with 12 each, while Ebony Ellis and Courtney Shelton added 10 each. Davis and Ellis each had double-doubles, with 13 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Sophomore Brandie Baker paced Central Michigan with 16 points, while Kaihla Szunko added 15 and Taylor Johnson scored 10.
The Huskie defense limited Central Michigan to just 31 points in the first half. The Chippewas hit only 1-of-9 three-point attempts, and shot 40 percent (12-30) in the period. Central Michigan managed a 31-25 lead at halftime thanks to 13 Huskie turnovers. NIU shot hit 10-of-28 shots (35.7 percent) from the field, and no player scored more than five points over the opening 20 minutes.
Central Michigan hit five to its first six shots to open the second half, extending the lead to 13 with 14:49 left. NIU dominated the next 10 minutes, piecing together a 22-8 run to take a one point lead with 5:06 remaining. Central Michigan answered with a 5-0 spurt to retake the lead, 56-52. Davis hit two free throws to get the Huskies within two. The Chippewas used a 5-1 run to take a 61-55 lead with 1:01 left, and NIU misfired on three shots in a row, putting the game out of reach.
The teams' shooting percentages were nearly even, and the Huskies outrebounded CMU 43-34. But the Chippewas scored 23 points on as many NIU turnovers, a stat that would prove too cumbersome to overcome.
Freeman became the first player to score 1,000 points for the Cardinal and Black in just three seasons since Stephanie Raymond did so in 2005-06. Freeman joined 15 other members of the 250-Assist Club earlier this season. Ellis is just 174 points away from joining her teammate with 1,000 in her career.
Northern Illinois returns to action January 12 at MAC West favorite Toledo, with tip-off set for 6 p.m.
