Final Stats

DeKALB - The NIU women’s basketball team (10-13, 3-9 MAC) outplayed the Mid-American Conference West division leaders Central Michigan (17-7, 11-2 MAC) for the first three quarters of the game on “Play 4 Kay” day, but a blitzkrieg of shots by the Chippewas in the fourth quarter pushed CMU past the Huskies, 73-67.

Central Michigan’s Da’Jourie Turner finished with a game-high 24 shots, including 21 in the second half, as CMU outscored NIU in the final quarter, 30-10. Four Huskies reached double-figures in the game, led by Courtney Woods (Brisbane, Australia/St. Margaret’s Anglican) 17 in the game. Ally Lehman (Nineveh, Ind./Indian Creek) and Mikayla Voigt (Slinger, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) each scored 13 points while Kelly Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) added 11.

“We came out of the locker room and executed our game plan. I could not be prouder of the way we played, especially for the first three quarters,” said Head Coach Lisa Carlsen. “What we asked the players to do, they did well on both ends of the floor. We have to learn how to play and expect to be that position. You have to give Central Michigan a lot of credit because any good team is going to make a run at you and I thought they had some kids that stepped up. Good teams are going to do that, we just have to be able to respond.”

The Huskies played aggressive in the opening half, rising above the length of Central Michigan’s forwards to crash boards and work the ball in transition down the floor. An 8-0 run by NIU was the difference in the opening quarter as NIU led after 10 minutes, 20-15.

Voigt and Woods combined 16 of the Huskies 18 points in the second quarter, including a trey by Voigt with seven seconds left in the first half, as they led by 13 points at the break, 38-25.

Woods ended the first half with 12 points to lead all scorers in the game. All five of the Huskies starters hit a three-pointer in the opening 20 minutes. Central Michigan led on the boards, 26-20, as Reyna Frost and Tinara Moore combined for 17 rebounds.

Both Northern Illinois University and Central Michigan traded runs in the third quarter, with NIU starting it off in the quarter and closing it out. Two steals by the NIU defense resulted in fast break layups for Voigt, leading NIU past CMU in the quarter, 19-18, putting the Huskies in front of the Chippewas entering the final period, 57-43.

CMU closed the gap to one point, 57-56, but a jump shot by Lacia Gorman (Fort Wayne, Ind./Wayne) put momentum back in NIU’s corner as Carlsen called a timeout to recharge the Huskies.

Northern Illinois and Central Michigan then traded shots and stops, including NIU’s Jazmine Harris (West Allis, Wis./Heritage Christian) taking a charge with 4:26 left that kept the Huskies on top, 61-58.

After trading five leads in the opening three minutes of play, NIU and CMU traded three leads in a span of 1:06 with three minutes left in the game as the Chippewas went ahead with 3:10 left, 62-61, followed by a Lehman pull up jumper with 26 seconds later.

CMU took its final lead with 2:26 left on a Cassie Breen three-pointer, 65-63, as the Huskies tried to overcome the deficit but couldn’t find the basket.

NIU forced a season-high 24 turnovers in the game, converting 17 points off those chances. The Huskies dominated on the offensive end of the paint, outscoring the Chips, 34-22, but lost the rebound battle, 37-26. Defensively, NIU recorded eight blocks, including four by Woods, and nine steals. Lehman finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

NIU will return to action Wednesday, Feb. 17 when it hosts Ball State at the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff for the ESPN3 broadcast is set for 7 p.m. Central.