SERIES HISTORY
NIU leads the overall series history between the two schools, 20-11, with a 7-7 record in Akron. The last Huskie win in Rhoades Arena was Jan. 2, 2016 when NIU scored a 65-58 victory. The last time NIU lost in Akron was Feb. 19, 2014 when the Zips claimed an 89-75 win over the Huskies.
 
WHEN LAST WE MET
Akron posted an 84-55 victory over Huskies last season in the Convocation Center. The Zips shot 43.2 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from three-point territory. NIU shot 33.3 percent from the field and 24.2 percent from three-point land. Three Huskies finished in double digits with Mikayla Voigt leading the way with 15 points.
 
LAST TIME OUT
A staunch defensive effort and solid offensive performance propelled the NIU women's basketball team to a 72-62 victory at Kent State, stopping a string of seven-straight losses this season. Three Huskies finished in double figures led by Courtney Woods who finished with a game-high 21 points. Mikayla Voigt was right behind her with 19 points, while Gabby Nikitinaite added 13. The Huskies shot 46.7 percent from the field and 90.9 from the free throw line.
 
ONE FOR THE ROAD
NIU's victory at Kent State was its first road win in conference play this season and first since an 86-75 win at SUIE on Dec. 17, 2017. The Huskies have three more road games this season; at Akron (Feb. 7), at Central Michigan (Feb. 21) and at Eastern Michigan (Feb. 24). NIU is 5-6 on the road this season, including 1-5 in MAC play.
 
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Freshmen Gabby Nikitinaite and Riley Blackwell made their first career starts at Kent State. Nikitinaite finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while Blackwell contributed two points, two rebounds and two blocks.
 
NIU IN THE MAC
The Huskies improved to 161-242 all time in Mid-American Conference games after their victory at Kent State Saturday. NIU is 19-27 in league play under head coach Lisa Carlsen.
 
NIU VS. MAC EAST
With their win at Kent State, the Huskies improved to 104-103 all-time and 3-3 this season versus teams from the MAC's East Division. NIU was swept by Miami and dropped a two-point game at Ohio on Jan. 24. The Huskies also defeated the Golden on Jan. 3 and Buffalo on Jan. 6. NIU is 14-9 versus East foes under Lisa Carlsen, including an 8-1 mark last year. NIU will wrap up regular season play versus the East when they welcome Bowling Green to the Convocation Center on Feb. 10.
 
MIKAYLA'S MILESTONE
Mikayla Voigt reached the 1,000th-career point plateau with a three-pointer from the left wing in NIU's victory at Kent State. Voigt joined her teammates Courtney Woods and Kelly Smith in the 1,000-career-point club. The Huskie junior has 1,012 career points after scoring 19 at Kent State. She scored a career best 380 points last year and is 69 points from surpassing that this season.
 
MILLENNIALS
When Mikayla Voigt joined Courtney Woods and Kelly Smith in the 1,000th-career point club at Kent State it marked the first time three Huskies scored 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. Smith and Woods 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 (Dec. 6). 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.
 
KEEPING SCORE
Courtney Woods has amassed 1,326 career points following her 21-point effort at Kent State. The Huskie junior ranks 15th on NIU's all-time scoring list. She is 90 points from surpassing Charmonique Stallworth (1992-96).
 
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Courtney Woods recorded her team-best sixth double-double of the season and third straight when she scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds vs Miami. Kelly Smith joined Woods and Ally May as the only Huskies with multiple double-double games this season when she scored 18 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds against the Bobcats. It was the second time this season two Huskies recoded a double-double in the same game. May posted her double-doubles against Western Illinois and Miami (Dec. 30).
 
Player                                            Game                 Pts.           Rebs.        Assist
Courtney Woods                          Miami                  17               10                --
Courtney Woods                          Ball State            37               15                --
Kelly Smith                                   Ohio                     18               12
Courtney Woods                          Ohio                     17               10
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                --
 
OUT OF THE WOODS
Courtney Woods averages 21.4 points a game, which ranks 12th in the nation and first in the MAC. Woods also leads the league and ranks 33rd in the country in field goals made with 168.
 
HUSKIE HARDWARE
Courtney Woods earned a share of the MAC West Player of the Week following her performances at Ohio and Ball State. She recorded a pair of double-doubles scoring a game-high 37 points and hauling in a career-best 15 rebounds at Ball State. At Ohio, Woods tallied 17 points, while hauling in 10 boards. It was the junior's third such honor this season. The Aussie earned the same honor Nov. 21 and Jan. 10. Myia Starks earned MAC West Player of the Week accolades following her performance at SIUE.
 
TWO TO TANGO
The Huskies' 77-75 loss at Ohio on Jan. 24 was the fifth game this season decided by two points or less and dropped NIU to 3-2 in such contests this season. Each of NIU's first three games of conference play was decided by two points. The Huskies opened MAC play with a 67-65 loss at Miami, before beating Kent State (Jan. 3), 81-79, and Buffalo (Jan. 6), 86-84, in overtime. NIU posted a 96-94 win over Western Illinois in the 2017-18 home opener on Nov. 18.
 
CLOSE CALLS
Seven of NIU's 10 conference games this season have been decided by five points or less, including a two-point setback at Ohio. The Huskies are 2-5 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 seven games this season decided by three points or less and are 3-4 in such contests.
 
NO REST NEEDED
Mikayla Voigt leads the league in minutes played and minutes played per game and ranks 101st and 43rd in the nation in those categories, respectively. Voigt has played 803 minutes in 22 games this season averaging 36.50 minutes played a game.
 
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 17th in the country in defensive rebounds, grabbing 29 a game. NIU ranks fourth in the league and 61st in country in rebounds per game, averaging 40.7.
 
ON THE BOARDS
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). The Huskie sophomore has 46 rebounds this season, nine shy of breaking last year's total of 54.
 
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.
 
FOUR FOR 30
Courtney Woods recorded her fourth 30-point scoring effort of the season and career when she tallied 37 points against Ball State. The Huskie junior went a career-high 14-of-21 from the field, including 7-of-10 from the three-point line in 34 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 11-of-19 from the field, including 10-of-12 from the free throw line, career bests in both categories. Woods also hit 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 loss 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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.