DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team hit the floor running Tuesday night, scoring 100 points in a 100-44 win over the Judson Eagles in exhibition action at the NIU Convocation Center.
"It was good for us to get out on the floor and take on another team tonight," said head coach
Lisa Carlsen. "We did a lot of good things tonight and got contributions from everyone that got in the game."
Five Huskies scored in double figures led by junior guard
Gabby Nikitinaite (Orpington, Kent, UK/Coopers School) who scored 15 points and had a team-high three three-pointers.
Courtney Woods (Brisbane, Australia/St. Margaret's) had 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Riley Blackwell (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) and freshman
A'Jah Davis (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) each had 10 points and six rebounds.
Janae Poisson (Matteson, Ill./Marian Catholic) also scored 10 points.
NIU's first three made field goals came from long distance as a pair of Woods threes and a Nikitinaite triple put the Huskies ahead 9-5 at the 6:49 mark of the opening quarter. Woods' second three sparked a 13-0 NIU run that freshman
Grace Hunter (Monroeville, Ind./Bellmont) punctuated with a fast break layup to put the home team up 19-5 with 4:13 to play in the first. Five different Huskies scored in that stretch. Judson closed the gap to nine but back-to-back layups from
Ally May (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) and Nikitinaite in the final minute gave NIU a 28-15 lead after one quarter.
The Huskies opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run, capped by five straight points from Poisson, to take a 37-15 advantage 2:26 into the period. Poisson and Blackwell combined for 13 of NIU's 15 points in the second as NIU took a 43-26 halftime lead. NIU shot 40 percent from the field in the first half and scored 11 fast break points. The Huskies also outrebounded Judson 36-20.
NIU grew its lead to 27 in the third when freshman
Chelby Koker (Racine, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) went coast to coast with a steal and a layup, making the score 57-30 with 4:57 left in the quarter. After a Judson basket made the score 57-32,
Abby Woollacott (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) jumpstarted a quarter-closing 15-2 run with five straight points to give NIU a 72-34 lead heading into the fourth.
It was some fresh faces for NIU that got in the action in the fourth quarter. Behind six points from Davis, a Hunter three-pointer, and a layup from
Rachel Dumoulin (Hampshire, Ill./Elgin Community College), NIU opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to take an 83-34 lead with 7:04 to play.
Ninni Salmi (Kauhajoki, Finland/San Francisco) scored all seven of her points in the final period, with her fast break layup at the 1:05 mark putting the Huskies at 99 points. Koker got NIU to 100 when she split a pair of free throws with 20 seconds left in the game.
NIU shot 48.8 percent from the field and made 10 three-pointers in the game. The Huskies dominated the glass, outrebounding Judson 67-30 and holding the Eagles to seven offensive rebounds. NIU had 28 assists on 42 made field goals with Koker leading the game with eight.
The Huskies open the 2019-20 regular season on Tuesday, November 5
th against Harvard at the Convocation Center for Education Day. Tip-off is at 11 a.m. Season ticket pricing for the 2019-20 NIU women's basketball season begins at just $35 with great seats available throughout the arena. Reserved seats are $50 for all 14 home games. NIU faculty and staff, NIU Alumni Association or Varsity Club members and senior citizens can purchase women's basketball season tickets for $40.
Courtside seats are available for the 2019-20 NIU women's basketball season. These seats put fans on the court for an unmatched view and experience of the game. Courtside seats are $200 each, which includes the cost of the season ticket plus a $150 per seat donation. For more information on women's basketball courtside seats, call the Huskie Athletic Fund at 815-753-PACK (7225).
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