EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. ­– The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team (7-2) posted an 86-75 win over SIUE (3-6) at the Sam M. Vadalabene Center Sunday. It was the third consecutive win for the Huskies and their best start to a season since 2006-07 as they equaled their mark at 7-2.
 
Today's victory over SIUE (3-6) is the sixth in-state win of the season for the Huskies as NIU went 6-0 versus Illinois competition.
 
"I thought we did a much better job as the game went on of adjusting to the physicality and what SIUE was trying to do," said NIU head coach Lisa Carlsen. "A little bit of a slow start, we didn't take care of the basketball the way I would have liked us to. Again, I thought we got more and more comfortable with the way the game was going as it went on. That was key in the second half."
 
Sophomore point guard Myia Starks (Oswego, Ill./Neuqua Valley) was on fire for the Huskies as she scored a career-high 25 points, making 11 free-throws, and recording six steals to mark two more career highs in the book. In the third quarter alone, Starks put up eight points and was a dominant leader on the court, making the plays when the Huskies needed her.
 
"Every minute that Myia plays, you just really see her evolve as a dynamic point guard," said Carlsen. "We've said all year that she is a pass-first guard, but you saw tonight she is very capable, especially, if someone is going to let her shoot her pull-up. That is her bread and butter shot, so I think she did a great job. She, obviously, did a great job of handling the basketball and knocking down free-throws, as well."  
 
Another 20-point game was earned from junior Courtney Woods (Brisbane, Australia/St. Margaret's Anglican School) as she put up 24 points, making six of her nine three-point attempts and went four-for-four at the free-throw line.
 
It was a rough start for NIU in the first half. After Woods put up a three in the second minute of play to start the scoring drive of the game, the Huskies lost the lead until the second quarter when Starks tied the game with a made free throw.
 
The Cougars held the lead for a total 22 minutes and 48 seconds, but were outplayed in the second half and lost the lead for good in the fourth quarter.
 
SIUE's Lauren White was the team's biggest threat as she put up 16 points in the first half. The Huskies quickly gained their footing in the third quarter shutting White down and allowing a measly two points from the redshirt senior.
 
The Huskie made up for White's 28 points as they matched it with 28 defensive rebounds. NIU capitalized on its rebounds as the Huskies were able to score on 14 of their 34 total. Woods had eight to lead the team, while redshirt sophomore Ally May (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) recorded six.  Starks as well as senior forward Kelly Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) each added five.
 
Smith and Mikayla Voigt (Slinger, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) added to the Huskies scoring, each in the double digits recording 15 and 11 points, respectively.
 
The Huskies head to warmer weather this week to play in the Puerto Rico Classic in matchups against Sacramento State on Wed., Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. and the University at Albany on Thurs. Dec. 21 at noon.
 
-NIU-