DeKALB, IL – After an exciting come-from-behind win over Buffalo last Saturday, the Northern Illinois University women's basketball team travels to Mid-American Conference leaders Central Michigan for a 6 p.m. CT tip-off Wednesday night.
 
NIU (6-13, 2-6 MAC) erased a 14-point second quarter deficit last Saturday to defeat the Buffalo Bulls 64-63 at the NIU Convocation Center. NIU scored the final five points of the game, with Ally May's (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) layup with 4.9 seconds to go giving the Huskies their fourth win over Buffalo in the last five meetings.
 
Courtney Woods (Brisbane, Australia/St. Margaret's) and Gabby Nikitinaite (Orpington, Kent, UK/Coopers School) both led NIU with 15 points against Buffalo. Woods' 15 points put her at 1,998 for her career, two points away from 2,000. The redshirt-senior forward has averaged 20.1 points per game over the last seven games, shooting 49 percent from the field. Nikitinaite tied a career-high with five three-pointers and had a season-high five assists. Her fifth assist came on May's winning basket.
 
The Huskies are second in the MAC in rebounding, averaging 40.7 rebounds per game. NIU outrebounded Buffalo 46-41 on Saturday and turned 18 offensive rebounds into 15 second chance points. Saturday also marked the fourth time this season NIU made at least 10 three-pointers in a game. The Huskies are averaging 8.25 three-pointers per game in conference play.
 
Central Michigan (16-4, 9-0 MAC) remained perfect in MAC play Saturday with a 92-90 overtime win over Ohio. Kyra Bussell led the Chippewas with 33 points and nine rebounds. Micaela Kelly, the MAC's leading scorer at 22.8 points per game, had 10 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. On January 29 the Chippewas went to double overtime in a 98-93 victory over Buffalo. Central Michigan leads the MAC in scoring at 77.6 points per game and three-pointers made with 9.3 per game.
 
NIU is on the road again on Saturday, taking on Bowling Green at 12 p.m. CT.
 
--NIU--