TOLEDO, Ohio ­– The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team (10-6, 2-3) battled, but suffered a 63-60 setback to Toledo (12-5, 3-2) at Savage Arena Saturday.
 
"This is a team that continues to impress me from a never quit standpoint," said NIU head coach Lisa Carlsen of the Huskies. "They don't let some adversity get in the way of the task at hand and what our goals are. We hope to be in position where games come down to a possession or two. Sooner or later, if we keep battling like that, we're going to have our fair share of wins because of it."
 
Trailing 57-52 with 3:31, the Huskies mounted a charge. NIU went on a 6-0 run over a minute and eight seconds to take a 58-57 advantage with 2:16 left in the game. Kelly Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) provided four of those points, while Abby Woollacott (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) gave NIU the lead with her layup.
 
However, the lead would be short lived. Following a Toledo timeout on the ensuing possession, Jay Bravo-Harriott hit a three to give the Rockets a 60-58 lead with 2:07 left to play. After a pair of empty possessions for NIU, Toledo extended its lead to three with 57 seconds left when Mikaela Boyd, who finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds, hit the back end of one-and-one.
 
Smith pulled NIU to within one on a jumper with 52 seconds left and the Huskie defense forced a shot clock violation on the Rockets' next possession, giving NIU a chance to win the game.
 
With NIU trailing, 61-60 with seven seconds left, Smith put up a floater in the lane but it didn't fall and Toledo came up the rebound and quickly called timeout. Mariella Santucci, who was quickly fouled on the inbounds, made her two free throws to put the Rockets up by three with one last chance for the Huskies to tie the game.
 
Following a timeout, NIU inbounded the ball from in front of its bench with 1.5 seconds left. Unfortunately for the Huskies, the Courtney Woods (Brisbane, Australia/St. Margaret's Anglican School) three pointer was just off the mark.
 
Three Huskies finished in double figures led by Smith who tallied a game-high 18 points and hauled in five boards. Mikayla Voigt (Slinger, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) posted her first career double-double adding 16 points and 10 assists, while Woods finished with 13 points.
 
"Any time Kelly stays out of foul trouble and stays on the floor, we're a much better basketball team," Carlsen said of Smith. "I thought she played great today. She did a great job, defensively, of staying aggressive without fouling."
 
Woollacott did yeoman's work under on the glass, hauling in nine rebounds while scoring four points in 22 minutes of work.
 
The Huskies return to the court Wednesday when NIU plays host to Central Michigan. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN3 or listen on 1360 AM WLBK.
 
-NIU-