Women's Basketball | December 31

DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team opens Mid-American Conference play Saturday afternoon when the Huskies travel to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas. Tip-off is at 12 p.m. CT with the game being broadcast locally on WLBK 98.9 FM/1360 AM as well as ESPN3.
 
NIU (3-5) enters league play on the heels of a 103-71 loss at DePaul in its last game on Dec. 16. Junior forward A'Jah Davis (DeKalb, Ill./Montverde Academy [Fla.]) scored a career-high 26 points against the Blue Demons, with 22 points in the second half alone. She added 13 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. She was named MAC Player of the Week on Dec. 21 for her efforts in that game. Davis leads the conference in rebounding at 10.4 boards per game which puts her 20^th in the country.
 
The Huskies are leading the MAC in free throw shooting so far this season at 77.3 percent, with Central Michigan second at 74.4 percent. NIU has made 22 of its last 25 free throw attempts over the last three games. Chelby Koker (Racine, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) is tops among MAC players at the charity stripe, shooting 96.6 percent this season. She has made 26 of 27 free throws to put her third in the nation in free throw percentage.
 
Saturday's game marks just the second time NIU will play on New Year's Day in program history. NIU defeated Stetson 91-61 on Jan. 1, 1984 in a tournament in Miami, Fla. Central Michigan (2-8, 0-1 MAC) opened their conference slate Wednesday afternoon with a 92-75 loss at Buffalo. Molly Davis led the Chippewas with 23 points and 12 assists against the Bulls. Jahari Smith also had a double-double with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Davis leads the Chippewas with 17.1 points and 4.8 assists per game.
 
Following Saturday's game, NIU returns to the Convocation Center to host Ball State on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale at NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). Huskie Flex Plans are now available for the 2021-22 men's and women's basketball seasons.  Purchase vouchers for $6 each and use them throughout the season to attend Huskie men's and women's basketball home games. Simply redeem vouchers for tickets prior to the game. 
 
--NIU--