OXFORD, Ohio – NIU's 11th win of Mid-American Conference play was sealed with its lockdown defense in the final 11.8 seconds of regulation at Millett Hall as the Huskies (18-6, 11-2 MAC) did not allow Miami's (9-17, 3-10 MAC) potential game-winning, three-point attempt hit the rim, forcing an errant shot to clinch the Huskies seventh-straight game on the road, 63-61.

Northern Illinois University's 11th MAC win tied the program record for most wins as a member of the Mid-American Conference, matching the feat of NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Coach Jane Albright in 1984-85. Ally Lehman (Nineveh, Ind./Indian Creek) recorded 33 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and an 8-for-11 clip at the free throw line.

Defensively, NIU was solid all night as it forced 19 Miami University turnovers and recorded 10 steals on the night, the team's fifth 10-steal game during conference play. 

While Lehman was the only player with 10-or-more points, a first for the Huskies this season, Cassidy Glenn (New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic) and Kelly Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) each pulled down 10+ rebounds, led by Smith's 12. Glenn also dished a career-high five assists, sharing the lead with Mikayla Voigt (Slinger, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran).

After both teams opened the game with a sluggish first quarter that saw Miami in control, 12-10, NIU outscored the RedHawks in the second period, 19-8, that included an 11-3 run.

The Huskies' momentum started on the final possession of the first quarter as they held Miami scoreless in its half of the court in the final 17 seconds, leading to a Lehman score on the opening possession. Glenn swiped the ball on the inbounds and paved the way for another Lehman layup. The Nineveh, Ind., native scored Northern Illinois' first nine points in the stanza and finished with 15 points and seven rebounds in the half.

NIU led by 11 points with 4:19 left in the third quarter, however, an 8-0 run by the RedHawks to end the stanza closed the gap to three points, 46-43.

Reigning MAC East Player of the Week Kendall McCoy, who closed the night with 16 points and 13 rebounds, hit a three-pointer to open the quarter and tie the game, 46-46, with 8:54 left. The RedHawks took the lead 50-49 with 5:41 left and began trading baskets with the Huskies, resulting in six lead changes and four ties in the period alone.

With a minute to go, Miami's Lauren Dickerson drained a layup to put the RedHawks back in command, 61-60, but nine seconds later, Lehman drew a foul to take two shots at the free throw line.

After draining both of her shots, the Huskie defense denied the RedHawks shots but were unable to grab the rebounds it needed to transition back to offense. With 20.1 seconds left, MU inbounded the ball and turned it over five seconds later as Savannah Kluesner earned a charge in the backcourt.

Lehman made the front end of two free throws with 12.5 seconds left to increase the NIU lead to two points and set up Miami's final attempt after advancing the ball down the court.

The Huskies will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 18 when it hosts Ball State in the first game of a doubleheader with the NIU's men's basketball team. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. Central.