KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team erased an eight-point halftime deficit to the Western Michigan Broncos Monday night with a 26-point third quarter as the Huskies went on to with 61-47 at University Arena.

"This is a group that just refuses to quit," said head coach Lisa Carlsen. "In the second half we saw a real growth and maturation and an understanding of what we're going to have to do to have success now. I couldn't be prouder of this group for how its handled the challenges we've faced and the schedule we've had to play."

A'Jah Davis (DeKalb, Ill./Montverde Academy [Fla.]) led all players with 17 points and 12 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season. Paulina Castro was a perfect 5-for-5 from the three-point arc to tie her career-high of 15 points. Janae Poisson (Matteson, Ill./Marian Catholic) had 12 points, all in the second half, with five rebounds and a career-high six assists.

NIU (8-10, 5-5 MAC) trailed 26-18 at halftime after being held to 25 percent from the field. The Huskies got back in the game with a 12-1 run over 5:04 in the third to take a 30-29 lead with 3:58 left. Mikayla Brandon (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) sparked the run with a three as Poisson scored four of the final six points to put the Huskies ahead. Megan Wagner ended a 6:05 field goal drought with a three at the 3:28 mark of the third to put the Broncos back ahead 32-30. That would be Western Michigan's last lead of the game. The Huskies closed the quarter on a 14-3 run as Castro banked in a three from the corner to beat the buzzer to give NIU a 44-35 lead. The Huskies shot 71 percent in the quarter while holding Western Michigan to just nine points and 20 percent from the field.

Sparked by eight straight points from Davis and Jayden Marable (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), NIU opened the fourth quarter on a 11-2 run punctuated by Castro's fifth three of the game to take a 55-37 lead with 6:09 to play. The Broncos only got as close as 12 points the rest of the way. NIU shot 67 percent from the field in the second half and held Western Michigan to 26.7 percent and just 4-for-17 from long range.

"I was proud of the way we played defense throughout the game," Carlsen said. "We were as connected on that end of the floor as we were offensively. Each player understood what they needed to do and that was on display in the second half."

Western Michigan (11-6, 5-3 MAC) opened the game on a 10-4 run, getting five points from Reilly Jacobson and a three from Maddy Watters at the 3:03 mark. Davis ended a 5:05 scoring drought for NIU with a layup at the 1:16 mark, and a Castro three got the Huskies within one 10-9 with 0:40 to go in the first. Watters made two free throws with 0:11 left to give the Broncos a 12-9 lead after one quarter of play. Western Michigan led by as much as 11 points in the second quarter and took a 26-18 lead at halftime.

NIU's 47 points allowed are a season-low for the Huskies. On Nov. 28, NIU held Milwaukee to 50 points in a 69-50 win. The Huskies shot 44.1 percent from the field, holding Western Michigan to 30.4 percent and 28 percent from the three-point line. NIU outrebounded the Broncos 43-29 and committed just 11 turnovers. Jacobson led Western Michigan with 15 points.

NIU returns to the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Feb. 2 to take on Bowling Green for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Prior to the game, NIU Athletics will hold the Power of the Pack Youth Clinic from 4:30-5:30 p.m. inside Victor E. Court. For more information and to register, log on to NIUHuskies.com/POTPClinic.  
 
Tickets can be purchased online at NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). Huskie Flex Plans are still available for the 2021-22 basketball season. 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 at the box office prior to the game.
 
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