OXFORD, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team could not stop the red-hot Miami Redhawks at Millett Hall Wednesday night, falling 70-45. It was the Redhawks' eighth win and a row and snapped the Huskies' three-game winning streak.
NIU's 45 points were a season-low, as the Huskies shot 31 percent from the field and were held to 1-for-12 from the three-point line. Wednesday night was the first time NIU was held under 50 points since scoring 47 at Ohio on Jan. 23, 2016.
Mikayla Voigt (Slinger, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) led NIU with nine points, adding two rebounds and a steal.
Myia Starks (Plainfield, Ill./Nequa Valley) had eight points and a team-high three steals.
Miami (18-4, 9-2 MAC) got off to a quick start, taking a 10-2 lead in the first 3:34 with Savannah Kluesner and Kendall McCoy each scoring four points. NIU trailed 13-4 when a
Gabby Nikitinaite (Orpington, Kent, UK/Coopers School) jumper started a 6-2 run that got the Huskies within five, 15-10, at the 4:04 mark. The Redhawks extended their lead to six by the end of the quarter as a Baleigh Reid layup with 0:44 left made the score 20-14.
NIU (14-9, 6-4 MAC) and Miami traded baskets to start the second quarter, with a Kluesner layup putting the Redhawks ahead 28-20 with 7:28 remaining. The Huskies cut the deficit in half with a Voigt three and a Nikitinaite free throw to make the score 28-24 at the 6:03 mark. NIU then went cold from the field, going 1-for-7 to end the quarter. Miami closed the half on a 14-2 run to take a 42-26 halftime lead.
The Huskies showed a spark in the third quarter, scoring the first four points on baskets by Starks and
Ally May (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) got NIU within 12, 42-30, with 9:02 to play in the period. Miami then put the clamps on defensively, holding the Huskies without a field goal for 6:28 as the Redhawks raced out to a 56-32 lead. Miami led by as much as 26 in the second half.
On Saturday, Feb. 16, the Huskies return to the NIU Convocation Center to host Toledo at 1 p.m. for "Cram The Convo". NIU will host its annual Play4Kay Kids Clinic the night before from 6-7 p.m. in Victor E. Court for 1
st-8
th graders. For more information, click on
this link and register.
The first 1,000 fans at each game of Saturday's doubleheader will receive a Victor E. Huskie bobblehead. NIU will wear special pink jerseys for Play4Kay day, and Play4Kay t-shirts will be available for a minimum donation of $10. At halftime of Saturday's game, NIU Athletics will hold a Legacy Celebration to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of Huskie women student-athlete alumnae from the pre-Title IX era (1961-1981).
Tickets are available from the NIU Convocation Center Box Office, by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or by visiting NIUHuskies.com/tickets.
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