Final Stats

NIU 62, Akron 56 (Box Score)  | Game Highlights

DeKALB - Trailing Akron (17-5, 7-4 MAC) by 15 points with 8:38 remaining, NIU (10-10, 6-4 MAC) reached the .500 mark and won its fourth-straight game as the Huskies defeated the Zips, 62-56. Amanda Corral (Hobart, Ind./Hobart), who hit the go-ahead shot with 43 seconds remaining, finished the night with a career-high 31 points.

The comeback was the largest of Head Coach Kathi Bennett’s five year tenure at NIU and the Huskies first double-digit comeback since a 10-point rally versus Western Michigan when NIU defeated the Broncos March 8, 2014, 59-51.

Sophomore Ally Lehman (Nineveh, Ind./Indian Creek) scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds while freshman Kelly Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) added 12 points and eight rebounds. Jenna Thorp (Hinckley, Ill./Hicnkley-Big Rock) scored all seven of her points in the Huskies 26-5 run in the final eight minutes of the game.

“That was great win for us with how the team stayed together and believed, even being down by 15 points. When you do that, good things are bound to happen,” said Bennett.

The Huskies rushed out of the gate with gumption, taking the opening tip and starting the contest on an 8-0 run as Corral and Smith jumpstarted NIU. The offensive oriented Zips rallied back and took its first lead of the game with 9:07 left, 15-14, however, NIU would rally to take back that lead as it capitalized on a 6-0 run to lead, 20-15.

The Huskies and Zips would trade points in the final eight minutes but the Zips would take the lead into the halftime locker room, 27-26. Corral led the NIU offense with 11 points while Hannah Plybon also added 11 points for Akron. The Zips, who lead the MAC in scoring with 77.1 points per game, was 10-for-28 (.357) from the field in the opening stanza while NIU was 12-for-32 (.375).

The Zips started the second half on a 10-0 run to build an 11 point lead with 16:25 left in regulation. A pull-up jumper by Lehman broke the UA scoring run and shifted some momentum in NIU’s favor as the Huskies brought it back to within six points, 42-36, seven minutes into the stanza.

Going on an 8-0 run, the Zips took their 15 point lead on a jumper by Kerri McMahan with 8:58 remaining, just before Corral was forced to the bench after receiving a three fouls in a span of 1:01. A three-pointer by Smith and a jumper by Lehman put NIU within eight points and poised the team for a comeback.

“When we cut (their lead) down at that point, I thought ‘we’re going to do this.’ I could just tell with the look in our players eyes. Amanda and Jenna wanted the ball and when you get that look, you have to go with it. I told them don’t be afraid to take shots and Jenna took a long a three that brought us back within one and Amanda tied the game on a three-pointer,” added Bennett.

A putback and a pair of free throws by Thorp, as well as a trey by Corral, gave the Huskies a 14-0 run and put NIU within one point with 2:59 remaining, 51-50.

Leading by three points, 56-53, with 1:28 left, Akron could not stop Corral from tying the game on a three-pointer with 1:19 left. After a DiAndra Gibson turnover, Corral converted the go-ahead layup and followed with four free throws to reach her 31 points and secure the Huskies first victory over the Zips since 2012, 62-56.

Corral’s 20 point second half was the largest total by an NIU player this season, surpassing Lehman’s 18-point second half versus Valparaiso on Nov. 20. It was the second time in the last four games that Corral eclipsed the 30-point mark in a game.

While Lehman contributed 10 points and Smith added 12 to support Corral’s scoring, Lacia Gorman (Fort Wayne, Ind./Wayne/Wisconsin) dished a career-high four assists to lead the game in helpers. Thorp finished with seven points, all in the final five minutes, and tied her season in rebounds with eight.

The four game MAC winning streak is NIU’s longest since Jan. 2009 and improves NIU to 7-1 at the NIU Convocation Center this season with four home games remaining. It’s the first time since 2006-07 that the Huskies have been .500-or-better through 20 games.

Northern Illinois University returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 11 when it hosts MAC West leader Western Michigan (15-7, 8-3 MAC). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central.