DeKALB - Breaking her own school record and tying the Mid-American Conference record with 48 points, senior
Ally Lehman (Nineveh, Ind./Indian Creek) led the NIU women's basketball team (2-0) past Milwaukee (1-1) in double overtime Wednesday night, all the while helping the Huskies to their first 2-0 start since the 2003-04 season with their 114-104 win. The team's 100-point effort was its first since a four-overtime victory at Bowling Green on Feb. 18, 2004 (102-97).
The Huskies had five players with 10-or-more points, including freshman
Janae Poisson's 16 clams off the bench.
Courtney Woods (15),
Cassidy Glenn (14) and
Mikayla Voigt (13) completed the Huskies five-pronged scoring threat, registering the feat for the first time since Feb. 27, 2016 versus Toledo.
Along with her 41 points, Lehman tied her career-high in rebounds with 21. Lehman finished the night 17-of-29 from the field and 13-of-16 at the free throw line. The Nineveh, Ind., native tied the school record for points on Feb. 24, 2016 at Western Michigan with a 41-point night in regulation.
Her 48-points tied the MAC's best mark set by Miami University's Courtney Osborn at Akron on Jan. 4, 2012.
"I think if you look at what Milwaukee did in the first half defensively, they were very aware of Courtney (Woods) and Mikayla (Voigt) behind the three-point line and I think that that's why Ally had so much success tonight. because it gave space for her to go to work," said Head Coach
Lisa Carlsen. "Our three-point baskets tonight came when we stopped in transition when we were able to play outside the half court."
As a team, NIU went 40-for-84 from the field, an impressive 47/6 percent mark, despite trailing the rebound battle, 57-46. The Huskies also outscored the Panthers 64-40 in the paint as the lead changed 11 times in the contest.
Northern Illinois University trailed by 10-or-more points in the first and second half but battled back with impressive scoring runs by attacking the basket and earning 34 trips to the free throw line. The Huskies finished 29-for-34 at the line, earning six field goals with attached free throw attempts in the ball game.
With 1.8 seconds left in regulation and game tied 85-85 after a
Kelly Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) putback, Lehman hit a pair of free throws to give NIU an 87-85 lead.
However, after the Panthers called a timeout to advance the ball to their side of the court, UWM's leading scorer Steph Kostowicz hit a layup at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, 87-87.
Milwaukee led by five points in the first overtime period with 1:59 left but Lehman equalized with two free throws with 1:18 remaining and tied the game with a trey with 28.5 seconds left. Lehman and Smith combined for the ensuing stop defensively, forcing a loose ball to the floor to force more free basketball.
The Huskies did not acquiesce any momentum in the period as it outscored the Panthers 17-7 in the final period to break the 100-point barrier and seal the 114-104 triumph.
The two overtime contest was the first for NIU since Nov. 16, 2011 versus Western Illinois - the Huskies next opponent - when it defeated the Leathernecks, 91-84.
The intrastate battle will take place Saturday, Nov. 19 at Western Hall in Macomb, Ill. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The game will air live on ESPN3.
