AMES , Iowa - Trading shots in the first half and falling behind by 16 in the third quarter, the NIU women's basketball team (5-3) nearly pulled off its largest comeback of the season at Iowa State (7-2) as it closed the gap to within three points with 38.3 seconds left. However, the Huskies fell to the Cyclones, 97-89.

Five Huskies reached double figures for the fifth time this season, paced by Cassidy Glenn's (New Lenox, Ill./Presbyterian) 18 points. Courtney Woods (Brisbane, Australia/St. Margaret's Anglican School) followed up with 17 while Ally Lehman (Nineveh, Ind./Indian Creek) and Mikayla Voigt (Slinger, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) scored 16 points. Janae Poisson (Matteson, Ill./Marian Catholic) led NIU on the bench with 12 points.

Lehman tallied her fifth double-double of the season in the effort, pulling down a game-high 15 boards while adding four assists, sharing the lead with Voigt.

"I can't fault our effort tonight," said Head Coach Lisa Carlsen. "There was a time in the third quarter where we folded. Iowa State was having their way but I have to credit our kids for the battle and the fight they had being able to compete against a team with more size than we had. It was their size that we had the most difficult time with but it wasn't for their lack of effort or heart."

After trading baskets in the first five and half minutes of the opening quarter, a trey by the Cyclones after the first media timeout pushed ISU up by six, 21-15, and then by eight after a jumper with 3:03 left.

After Lehman attacked the basket to break the scoring drought, NIU closed the first period on a 9-2 run - accentuated by Glenn's old-fashioned three-point play with 1:53 remaining.

Taking back the lead on their first possession of the second quarter, the Huskies extended its same run to 15-4 to take the 33-27 edge over the Cyclones. However, a 9-0 run by ISU quickly brought the lead back to Iowa State's bench with 4:43 left in the half.

With six points in less than a minute and a half with three minutes remaining in the half, Woods closed the half with 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting as Northern Illinois trailed by two at halftime, 45-43.

Northern Illinois University shot 50 percent from the field in the half, going 19-of-38 from the field.

Lehman joined the 1,000-point club on NIU's first basket of the second half, becoming the 28th Huskie to reach the total.

However, Iowa State would outscore the Huskies in the seven and half minutes of third quarter, 23-9.

A pair of free throws by Glenn put some momentum back in the Huskies favor as they outscored the Cyclones 8-4 in the final minutes of the stanza. The finish sparked the Huskies offense in the final period as they outscored Iowa State, 29-25.

Continuing to attack the basket, NIU made its final eight attempts from the free throw line at the charity stripe to reduce the deficit to under 10 points. After Lehman hit a basket with 1:32 left, Poisson hit two free throws, setting the trend for Voigt, who put the Huskies within three points with 32.5 seconds left.

NIU was unable to complete the comeback, however, as it was forced to foul the Cyclones. ISU would take the contest, 97-89.

Northern Illinois University will return to action Friday night when it hosts Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff for the Huskies final non-conference game of the season is set for 7 p.m. Central.