DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team renews its rivalry with in-state opponent Illinois State Wednesday night at Redbird Arena. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
 
Wednesday night's game will be televised on ESPN+. It will also be broadcast locally on WSQR 92.9 FM and 1180 AM with Andy Garcia on the call.
 
NIU (2-1) made program history in last Sunday's 80-75 win in overtime at Colorado State. It marked the first time in 1,413 NIU women's basketball games that the Huskies played back-to-back overtime games. The Huskies closed overtime on a 12-4 run in the final 1:43 and made 9-of-12 free throws in the extra period. Junior forward Riley Blackwell (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) led four Huskies in double-figure scoring with a career-high 18 points and added eight rebounds. Courtney Woods (Brisbane, Australia/St. Margaret's) had 16 points and eight rebounds as Gabby Nikitinaite (Orpington, Kent, UK/Coopers School) filled the box score with 15 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Nikitinaite scored seven of her 15 points in overtime.
 
Woods moved into a tie for sixth on the NIU career scoring chart Sunday. She now has 1,719 career point to move past Doreen Zeier (1979-82) and tie her with Stephanie Raymond (2003-07). Woods is 22 points from tying Mikayla Voigt (2015-19) for fifth place. Woods has scored in double figures in 36 consecutive games dating back to November 24, 2017. She is currently fifth in the MAC in scoring at 19.3 points per game and second in free throw percentage at 91.7 percent.
 
Illinois State (2-1) leads the all-time series 27-11 with a 13-2 advantage in Normal, Ill. NIU has won the last four meetings in the series, including a 108-66 win over the Redbirds at the NIU Convocation Center on November 26, 2016. Ally Lehman recorded the third triple-double in NIU history in that game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Woods led all scorers with 23 points.
 
The Redbirds are 2-1 on the season after winning at Illinois 74-58 on Saturday. Illinois State shot over 60 percent from the field in each of the final three quarters and led by 18 points after the third. Lexi Wallen led Illinois State with 26 points and nine rebounds as Tete Maggett added 21 points and a game-high eight assists. In three games, Illinois State is allowing 58.7 points per game with a +6.3 rebound margin.
 
Following Wednesday's game, NIU travels to Purdue for a game at Mackey Arena Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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