YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team erased a 13-point third quarter deficit to force overtime against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at the EMU Convocation Center Saturday, then closed the extra session with a 7-0 run to win 68-65.
 
"It was an ugly basketball game for awhile, but one thing that I'll never doubt is that this team has what it takes to fight until the final buzzer," said head coach Lisa Carlsen. "Obviously that was on display today. I told them in the huddle before overtime 'You know you've fought so hard to get back to this point. You deserve this win.' We found a way to win today and that's important for the growth of this club."
 
Mikayla Voigt (Slinger, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) led NIU with 20 points, 16 of which came in the second half and overtime. It's her fourth straight game with at least 20 points. Myia Starks (Plainfield, Ill./Nequa Valley) had 14 points, 10 of which came in the second half. Gabby Nikitinaite (Orpington, Kent, UK/Coopers School) added 11 points. Ally May (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) had double-digit rebounds for the fifth straight game, pulling down a team-high 10 with eight points.
 
NIU (12-8, 4-4 MAC) shot just 33.3 percent from the field in the first half, falling behind 29-22. Eastern Michigan used a 6-0 run early in the third quarter to take a 41-28 lead with 6:25 remaining. It was the Eagles' largest lead of the game. The Huskies responded with six straight points from Nikitinaite and Starks to get within seven, 41-34, with 4:12 left in the third. NIU got as close as four points at the 1:07 mark when an Errin Hodges (Evansville, Ind./Central) fast break layup made the score 44-40. Jenna Annecchiarico then made a three for Eastern Michigan in the final minute to give the Eagles a 47-40 lead heading into the fourth.
 
Eastern Michigan (10-9, 3-5 MAC) took an early nine-point lead in the fourth, but a Riley Blackwell (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) three-pointer and a Starks layup capped a 12-2 Huskies run over 4:17 that gave NIU a 52-51 lead. Voigt scored the first seven points of that stretch for NIU. The two teams then traded baskets for the remainder of regulation, starting with a Natalia Pineda three that put Eastern Michigan back in front 54-52. Starks tied the game at 54, with Danielle Minott giving the Eagles a 56-54 lead at the 1:43 mark. May tied the game at 56 with a layup assisted by Nikitinaite with 0:36 to play. NIU had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Eastern Michigan forced a turnover with 0:02 left.
 
"Collectively, I thought the group that played most of the fourth quarter did a great job of playing together on both ends of the floor," Carlsen said. "If we're going to have success, that's what we have to do."
 
NIU took a 61-60 lead with 3:39 to play in the extra session on Blackwell's second three of the game. The Eagles then scored five straight points as a deep step-back three by Minott put Eastern Michigan ahead 65-61 with 0:59 left. Voigt answered with a fall-away three on NIU's next possession to get the Huskies within one, 65-64. NIU then got a key stop on the other end, with Blackwell pulling down the rebound of a Minott missed three. Voigt then made a driving layup on the ensuing possession to give the Huskies a 66-65 lead with 0:08 to play. The Huskies got one last stop as Blackwell stole the ball from Courtnie Lewis with 0:05 to go. Blackwell got the ball to Starks, who then was fouled. Starks sank both free throws to make the score 68-65. Eastern Michigan had one last gasp at forcing another overtime, but Annecchiarico's desperation heave missed the mark.
 
The Huskies shot 48.7 percent from the field in the second half and overtime, finishing the game shooting 42.4 percent. Eastern Michigan shot 43.9 percent from the field, but made just 5-of-22 three-pointers. NIU outrebounded the Eagles 42-38 and forced 16 turnovers. Minott led all scorers with 22 points.
 
NIU returns to the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Feb. 6 to take on Bowling Green at 6 p.m. for the next installment of Game Show Wednesday. Tickets are available through the NIU Convocation Center Box Office by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or by logging on to NIUHuskies.com/tickets.
 
--NIU--