DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team hosts the Eastern Michigan Eagles Wednesday night at 6 p.m., attempting to sweep the regular-season series from the Eagles for the second time in three years.
 
NIU (16-10, 8-6 MAC) had its two-game winning streak snapped last Saturday in a 76-52 loss at Central Michigan. Gabby Nikitinaite (Orpington, Kent, UK/Coopers School) led the Huskies with 18 points off the bench, adding eight rebounds. Nikitiniate averaged 17.0 points per game in NIU's two games last week after four straight single-digit scoring games. She shot 53.8 percent from the field in the two games and made four of 10 three-pointers.
 
The Huskies are 11-2 at the Convocation Center this season. This is the sixth season since 1980 that NIU has won at least 10 games on the home floor.  The Huskies are averaging 79.3 points per game at home this year, shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 79.4 percent at the free throw line. NIU is winning by an average of 12.7 points per game at the Convocation Center with a +4.1 turnover margin. The Huskies have scored over 75 points eight times on the home floor, all wins.
 
Eastern Michigan (12-13, 5-9 MAC) leads the all-time series with NIU 36-16. NIU won the first meeting this season against the Eagles 68-65 in overtime at the EMU Convocation Center. The Huskies erased a 13-point third quarter deficit to force overtime, then used a 7-0 run in the extra period to close the game. Mikayla Voigt (Slinger, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) led NIU with 20 points, scoring 14 in the second half and overtime. Myia Starks (Plainfield, Ill./Nequa Valley) had 14 points. Ally May (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) had eight points and 10 rebounds, making the game-tying basket with 0:36 remaining in regulation.
 
The Eagles also had a two-game winning streak end on Saturday, falling at Western Michigan 71-68. The Broncos made six threes in the fourth quarter to overcome a six-point Eagles lead. Corrione Cardwell and Courtnie Lewis each had 20 points for Eastern Michigan. Danielle Minott, the Eagles' leading scorer at 14 points per game, had 13. The Eagles are fourth in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 63.5 points per game.
 
NIU's women's athletic programs will hold its annual Power of the Pack Kids Clinic, for all children in first-through-eighth grade, prior to the game Wednesday, starting at 4:45 p.m. All attendees will be able to be a part of the high five tunnel pregame and receive a free ticket for the game. For more information, click on the following link.
 
The YDL student dance group will perform pre-game for Wednesday night's Black History Month Celebration. The Game Show Wednesday series will continue with Jeopardy-themed promotions. Tickets are available from the NIU Convocation Center Box Office, by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or by visiting NIUHuskies.com/tickets.
 
--NIU--