DEKALB, Ill. ­– The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team shot a torrid 54.2 percent from the field, including 70 percent from three-point territory, in the second half to defeat Toledo, 89-79, at the Convocation Center Wednesday night.
 
"It's a great ball club that we just beat," said NIU head coach Lisa Calrsen. "I'm really proud of the way we played for 40 minutes. We showed a lot of toughness and resiliency and did a great job of executing. Anytime you can put that many points up against one of the best defensive teams in the league, you've done some things right."
 
The win over Toledo (17-12, 8-9) at home was the first for NIU (15-13, 7-10) since March 4, 2015 and secured a first round game of the 2018 Mid-American Conference Tournament for the Huskies at the Convocation Center.  That game, against an opponent to be determined, will tipoff at 6 p.m. CT on Monday, March 5.
 
Courtney Woods (Brisbane, Australia/St. Margaret's Anglican School) led the way with a game-high 38 points, going 11-of-19 from the field and 11-of-14 three free throw to lead all scorers. She was one of three Huskies to finish in double figures.
 
Kelly Smith (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) finished with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Mikayla Voigt (Slinger, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) turned in a solid adding 19 points, going 8-for-8 from the free throw line, eight assists and six boards.
  
The Huskies outshot Toledo, 48.2-46.5 percent from the field, including 47.4-31.6 percent from beyond the arc. However, Wednesday night's game was won at the free throw line. The Huskies shot 83.9 percent, going 26-31 from the charity stripe.

The first three quarters were a see-saw affair, with 13 ties and eight leads changes. NIU led by four after the first 10 minutes of the game, before Toledo responded in the second to take a 34-31 lead into halftime.
 
It wasn't until the last minute in the third quarter when NIU wrestled control of the game. After the Huskies took a three-point lead on a pair of Smith free throws, Toledo tied the game on a Jay Bravo-Harriott three. With the score tied 57-57 and 45 seconds left in the period, Woods hit the second of a one-and-one at the line to give the Huskies a one-point lead into the fourth.
 
Woods took over in the fourth scoring 13 of NIU's first 18 points in the quarter. She finished the fourth with 15 points and helped NIU build a 14-point lead with 1:47 left in the game. Voigt took over from there, going 6-for-6 from the free throw line to help seal the win for the Huskies.
 
The Huskies return to the court Saturday when NIU plays host to Western Michigan on Senior Day. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN3 or listen on 1360 AM WLBK.
 
-NIU-