Final Stats

DeKALB - The NIU women’s basketball team overcame a nine point deficit to Eastern Michigan (7-5, 0-1 MAC) in the Mid-American Conference opener and finished strong in overtime as the Huskies won their second-straight MAC opener, 54-48. NIU outscored EMU in overtime, 11-5.

Huskies’ Amanda Corral (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) and Renee Sladek (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) each recorded a double-double in the game as the duo became the first Huskies to accomplish the feat in the same game since Kim Davis (2010-12) and Marke Freeman (2008-11) versus Loyola on Dec. 28, 2010.

Corral and Sladek scored 15 and 12, respectively, while adding 14 rebounds apiece. Corral added three assists and two blocks in the game.

“We love to play team defense and that’s what we did today. We did a great job of getting in gaps early in the second half and stopping initial penetration and making the shot clock wind down,” said Head Coach Kathi Bennett.

“I think forcing Eastern Michigan to pass the ball and get assists was the best adjustment we made on the night. They were beating us one-on-one in the first half,” Bennett added.

Both teams played a very defensive first half as both NIU and EMU committed nine fouls in the period with the Eagles narrowly outscoring the Huskies at the free throw line, 8-7. NIU was a perfect 7-for-7 at the line.

NIU led the turnover battle as it forced eight Eagle takeaways, three fewer than the Huskies first half total. With both sides playing a smothering defense, the Huskies and Eagles combined for a field goal percentage of .241.

Northern Illinois University started the second half on an 14-4 run to reclaim the lead, 33-30, as Kelly Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) sunk a layup on an inbound play under the basket, despite being fouled. Her ensuing free throw put NIU up by three points with 12:24 left to play.

The Huskies would go on to build a seven point lead in the period but the Eagles stormed back with 3:48 left as Cha Sweeney hit a layup  to bring EMU within one point, 42-41.

After back-to-back turnovers by EMU and NIU with under a minute left, Sweeney took a shot to put the Eagles back in front but it was air mailed over the rim. Sladek jumped over a sea of green to grab the rebound and was fouled, allowing her to make one free throw and put NIU up by two.

Sweeney tied the game with 4.8 seconds left as she sunk a jumper to force overtime, 43-43.

The Huskies waited until overtime to make its lone three-pointer of the game as Corral nailed one from the corner to tie the game again, 46-46. NIU built its lead up to six points in the half as it was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the stanza. Corral hit four from charity stripe while Ally Lehman (Nineveh, Ind./Indian Creek) and Smith each made two.

EMU’s Sweeney finished with a game-high 21 points. The Eagles only dished one assist in the game.

The Huskies tied their season-high in shots made from the free throw line as they closed the game 21-of-25 (.840) from the line. NIU’s rebounding was at its best as it accounted for 49 boards, including 35 on the defensive glass which bested Eastern Michigan’s 34 defensive rebounds.

It was the second time this season Northern Illinois University had held a foe under 50 points, holding SIUE to 47 on Dec. 17.

NIU will return to action next Saturday Jan. 10 as it heads to Mt. Pleasant, Mich. to take on Central Michigan. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. Fans can watch the game on ESPN3.com.