DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team looks to continue its momentum from Wednesday night's win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday when it goes to Kalamazoo, Mich. for a 1 p.m. showdown with the Western Michigan Broncos.
 
NIU (9-17, 5-10 MAC) held an opponent under 60 points for the third time this season with its 65-59 win over Eastern Michigan at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies held the Eagles to 33.3 percent shooting from the field, including 1-for-13 in the second quarter, and just 2-for-12 from the three-point line. It was the first time NIU held an opponent under 60 points since allowing a season-low 48 in a win over Eastern Illinois on December 19 in the Compass Challenge. NIU is 20-2 during head coach Lisa Carlsen's tenure when holding an opponent to 60 points or less.
 
Myia Starks (Plainfield, Ill./Nequa Valley) led NIU with 15 points, a season-high six assists, and three steals in Wednesday night's win. It was her sixth game scoring in double figures out of the last seven. During that stretch the senior point guard has averaged 12.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The Huskies also got a lift off the bench from junior guard Gabby Nikitinaite (Orpington, Kent, UK/Coopers School), who scored 11 points and was 3-for-5 from the three-point line. It was the seventh time this season Nikitinaite had at least three three-pointers in a game. NIU is 7-3 this season when Nikitinaite scores in double figures.
 
As a team, NIU is fourth in the Mid-American Conference in both three-pointers per game with 7.8 and three-point field goal percentage at 32.5 percent. The Huskies made 10 threes Wednesday night in the win over Eastern Michigan, marking the sixth time this season they have made double-digit three-pointers in a game. In conference play NIU is averaging 8.2 threes per game and has the top three-point percentage in the league at 35.5 percent.
 
Western Michigan (15-11, 8-7 MAC) had a four-game winning streak snapped Wednesday night in a 76-60 loss to Central Michigan. The Broncos led the Chippewas 37-35 at halftime but a 27-11 third quarter helped Central Michigan take the lead for good. Breanna Mobley led the Broncos with 19 points and six rebounds as Leighah-Amori Wool added 17 points. Mobley leads the MAC in rebounding with 10.8 boards per game. Western Michigan won the first meeting between the two teams this season 68-65 on February 15 at the NIU Convocation Center.
 
NIU hosts Ball State on Wednesday, March 4 in its final regular season home game at the NIU Convocation Center. Tickets are available by logging on to NIUHuskies.com/tickets or calling 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
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