GAME INFO
NIU (10-8, 2-5) – Ohio (10-8, 4-3)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018
Time: 6 PM CT
Location: Athens, Ohio • Convocation Center
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 98.9 FM & 1360 AM WLBK
 
SERIES HISTORY
NIU owns a 19-17 overall record in the series history with Ohio. However, the Bobcats are 9-7 in games played in Athens. Ohio. The Huskies are looking for their first win on Ohio's home floor since Feb. 6, 2013 when NIU beat the Bobcats, 73-52. NIU won the last two meetings between the two schools, including a 72-71 triumph in the quarterfinals of the 2017 MAC Women's Basketball Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
WHEN LAST WE MET
The Huskies completed the largest comeback in school history when it overcame a 22-point Bobcat lead in the second quarter to defeat Ohio, 72-71, in the quarterfinals of the 2017 MAC Women's Basketball Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Cassidy Glenn scored the game-winning basket with 34 seconds left and the Huskie defense staved off a last-minute three-point shot by Ohio to secure the win. Mikayla Voigt led all scorers with 19 points.
 
LAST TIME OUT
NIU was unable to overcome a hot shooting third quarter by Eastern Michigan as the Huskies fell, 83-76. The Eagles shot 86.7 percent from the field and 100 percent from three-point territory (3-3) in the third quarter. Four Eagles finished in double figures, while Courtney Woods led all scorers with 31 points. NIU led, 56-55, with 3:28 left in the third quarter when Eastern Michigan went on an 11-3 run to wrestle control of the game away from the Huskies.
 
FOUR FOR 30
Courtney Woods recorded her third 30-point scoring effort of the season and career when she tallied 31 points against Eastern Michigan. The Huskie junior went 10-of-21 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line in 40 minutes of work. She tied her career high in points scored earlier this season, tallying 39 in NIU's victory over Kent State. The Brisbane, Australia native went a career-high 11-of-19 from the field, including 10-of-12 from the free throw line, also career bests in both categories. Woods also hit a career-high seven three pointers in the contest. She set her career-best mark in points scored with 39 in a victory over Western Illinois (Nov. 18).
 
CASTRO'S CAREER BESTS
Redshirt freshman Paulina Castro established career highs in three offensive categories and tied a fourth in NIU's setback to Eastern Michigan. She scored a career best 14 points, going 5-of-7 from the floor, career highs in field goals and field goals attempted. Her four three pointers made ties her career high in that category set against Sacramento State. Castro saw the first action of her NIU career when she started in the Huskies' season opener at Eastern Illinois. Castro, who sat out all of the 2016-17 season battling Hodgkins Lymphoma, collected one rebound and one assist in 10 minutes of play against the Panthers.
 
NIU IN THE MAC
The Huskies fell to 160-239 all time in Mid-American Conference games after their loss to Eastern Michigan Wednesday night in the Convocation Center. NIU is 18-24 in league play under head coach Lisa Carlsen.
 
NIU VS. MAC EAST
With its victory over Buffalo (Jan. 6), the Huskies improved to 103-101 all-time and 2-1 this season versus teams from the Mid-American Conference's East Division. The Huskies fell to Miami, 67-65, in the conference opener and defeated Kent State Jan. 3. NIU is 13-7 versus East foes under Lisa Carlsen, including an 8-1 mark last year. NIU owns winning records over Akron (20-11), Buffalo (16-8), Miami (19-18) and Ohio (18-17).
 
PURSUING 1,000
Mikayla Voigt is 44 points away from joining her teammates Courtney Woods and Kelly Smith in the 1,000-career-point club with 956 career points after scoring two points against Eastern Michigan. She scored a career best 380 points last year. The Huskies have never had three players score their 1,000th career point in the same season. The last time more than one Huskie scored their 1,000th career point in the same season was 1993-94 when E.C. Hill and Angela Lockett accomplished the feat.
 
CLOSE CALLS
Six of NIU's seven conference games this season have been decided by five points or less, including a three-point setback to Central Michigan last week. The Huskies are 2-4 in those games. Last season, NIU participated in eight games decided by five points or less, winning six and losing two. The Huskies have played in six games less this season decided by three points or and are 3-3 in such contests.
 
TWO TO TANGO
The Huskies' 86-84 win over Buffalo was the third straight game and fourth of the season to be decided by two points or less. NIU is 3-1 in such contests with a 96-94 win over Western Illinois, and an 81-79 triumph over Kent State. The Huskies' only loss by two points or less this season was a 67-65 decision at Miami in the conference opener.
 
WORKING OVERTIME
NIU improved to 1-1 in overtime games this season and 28-25 all-time when it defeated Buffalo, 86-84, in overtime in the Convocation Center. The Huskies fell to Albany, 97-91, in overtime on Dec. 21, 2017 in NIU's final game in Puerto Rico. NIU is 2-3 in overtime affairs under Lisa Carlsen and are 4-2 in double overtime contests all-time.
 
MONEY FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
Mikayla Voight, who entered the season as NIU's career leader in free throw percentage, remains one percentage point ahead of Stephanie Raymond (2003-07) after not making it to the free throw line against Eastern Michigan. Voigt has hit 36-of-45 from the free throw line this season and 142-169 for her career for percentage of .840.
 
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Courtney Woods recorded her team-best third double-double of the season when she scored 25 points and hauled in 10 rebounds against the Chippewas. The Aussie also posted double-doubles versus Western Illinois (Nov. 18) and Buffalo (Jan. 6). Woods and Ally May are the only two Huskies with multiple double-double games. May posted her double-doubles against Western Illinois and Miami.
 
Player                                 Game             Pts.        Rebs.      Assist
Courtney Woods                  C. Michigan      25            10            --
Mikayla Voigt                       Toledo             16            --            10
Courtney Woods                  Buffalo            17            10            --
Ally May                              Miami              16            11            --
Myia Starks                         Albany             19            10            --
Kelly Smith                          Chicago St.      23            10            --
Courtney Woods                  W. Illinois         39            11            --
Ally May                              W. Illinois         10            16            --
 
POINT TAKEN
Mikayla Voigt scored a career-high 26 points in NIU's overtime victory over Buffalo in the Convocation Center. The Huskie junior went 8-of-19 from the field, including 4-for-11 from three-point territory, and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. She surpassed her previous career best of 25 set in NIU's overtime setback to Albany in Puerto Rico.
 
ON THE BOARDS
Sophomore Abby Woollacott turned in her best rebounding performance of her career in NIU's victory over Buffalo, hauling in 13 rebounds and scoring a season-high six points against the Bulls. Her previous career high was 10 rebounds last year versus Ohio (Jan. 7).
 
HUSKIE HARDWARE
Courtney Woods earned a share of the MAC West Player of the Week following her performances against Kent State and Buffalo. She tied her career high in points with 39 against the Golden Flashes and scored a double-double against the Bulls. It was the junior's second such honor this season. She earned the same honor Nov. 21 following a pair of double-digit scoring efforts against Western Illinois and at Iowa. Myia Starks earned MAC West Player of the Week accolades following her performance at SIUE. The Huskie sophomore set personal bests including points scored (25), made field goals (7), field goals attempted (11), free throws made (11) and field goals attempted (12).
 
CARLSEN CLIMBING
Lisa Carlsen enters her third season as head coach of the NIU Women's Basketball team. She has a 42-39 record at NIU for a .519 winning percentage, putting her just behind Rita Horky (1981-83), who finished with a .525 winning percentage (31-28). With the win over Loyola, Carlsen surpassed Liz Galloway-McQuitter for sixth all-time at NIU in wins and has a career record of 226-202 in 15 seasons as a head coach. She needs six wins to pass Alice Textor (1977-81), who tallied a 47-46 record.
 
ON THE REBOUND
NIU tied a Convocation Center record for rebounds in a game when it grabbed a season-high 59 rebounds. The last time the Huskies had 59 rebounds at home was Nov. 11, 2011 versus Western Illinois. Last season, the Huskies had five games of 50 rebounds or more, hauling in a season-high 57 versus Illinois State.
 
DEFENDING THE GLASS
NIU recorded a season-high 42 defensive rebounds in its victory over the Bulls as the Huskies out-rebounded Buffalo, 59-58. The Huskies lead the MAC and are 11th in the country in defensive rebounds, grabbing 30 a game. NIU ranks third in the league and 58th in country in rebounds per game, averaging 41.3.
 
MILLENNIALS
Courtney Woods and Kelly Smith became the first Huskie teammates to reach the 1,000-career point plateau in the same game, almost on back-to-back buckets, as the Huskie duo scored 22 and 18 points, respectively, in NIU's victory over Loyola. Woods scored her 1,000th-point on the Huskies' second to last basket of the first half, while Smith hit NIU's opening shot of the second half to score her 1,000th-career point. Woods has 1,234 career points in 81 games at NIU, while Smith is right behind her with 1,175 in 105 contests.
 
BRAGGING RIGHTS
With its 86-75 victory at SIUE, NIU improved to 125-123 against Division I teams from the state of Illinois and completed the season sweep of their Illinois opponents, going 6-0 versus in-state rivals. In addition to their win over the Cougars, the Huskies defeated Eastern Illinois, 93-64, in the season opener, Western Illinois, 96-94, Chicago State, 80-59, Bradley, 76-52 and Loyola, 80-71. The Huskies have won their last 10 games versus in-state foes and 15 of their last 16. The Huskies' only loss during that stretch was an 83-79 setback at Western Illinois. NIU is 15-2 overall under Lisa Carlsen against Illinois opponents. The last time the Huskies went undefeated versus teams from the Land of Lincoln was 1989-90 when NIU went 9-0 against in-state competition.
 
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE HONOREE
Junior Mikayla Voigt tallied 19 points in an 80-59 win at Chicago State and against Lamar on 5-of-12 in the tournament finale at the 2017 UTSA Thanksgiving Classic. Those performances, coupled with her 4.0 GPA while pursuing her bachelors degree in nursing, helped her earn MAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors from the MAC on Nov. 30. She is the first NIU woman to win the award this year and the second Huskie, joining Football's Jackson Abresch.
 
MAY I HELP YOU
Ally May set career bests in blocks and steals with two in each category against Bradley. She also established career highs in several categories including points (10), field goals made (5), field goal attempts (11) and rebounds (16) in NIU's win over Western Illinois earlier this season. It was also her first career double-double.
 
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Huskies had a season-high five players finish in double figures in their win over Western Illinois. Last season, NIU accomplished the feat seven times and Saturday's quintet of double-digit scorers are the most since Jan. 25, 2017 when six Huskies finished in double figures against Kent State. Courtney Woods led the way with 39 points and Mikayla Voigt followed with 16. Kelly Smith and Janae Poisson tallied 14 and 11 points, respectively, while May finished with 11.
 
WELCOME NEWCOMERS
NIU head coach Lisa Carlsen welcomed two new members to her staff for this year. Maria Kasza joined NIU as an assistant coach, while Quinn Rear was added to the staff as director of basketball operations. Kasza came to NIU after spending the last five seasons as an assistant at Michigan Tech. Rear joined the NIU staff following two seasons as a graduate assistant at Truman State.
 
FOREIGN HUSKIES
Freshman Gabby Nikitinaite, a native of Orpington, Kent, United Kingdom, is the second foreign player on the Huskie roster. She joins Courtney Woods, who hails from Brisbane, Australia.
 
SEEKING A POSTSEASON ENCORE
The Huskies, who made their first postseason appearance since 1995 when they participated in the 2017 Women's National Invitational Tournament, are looking to make it consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since 1994-95. NIU made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
 
HALL CALL
Huskies women's basketball legend Angela Lockett was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 6, 2017. Lockett, who starred for the Huskies from 1990-92, 1993-95 was a scoring and rebounding force who helped guide the NIU women's basketball team to the postseason in each of her four seasons on the court. Seventh on NIU's all-time scoring list, she also led NIU in rebounding for four seasons, closing her career with 1,014 career boards, the third best mark in school history.
 
TWENTY-ONE AND OVER
The Huskies are coming off a 21-12 record in 2016-17. It was NIU's first 20-win season since 1993-94 and the sixth in school history. The school record for wins in a season is 26 set in 1989-90 when the Huskies posted a 26-5 record.
 
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