Women's Basketball | January 24

DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team plays the first of back-to-back home games this week on Wednesday night when the Kent State Golden Flashes come to the NIU Convocation Center. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. with the game broadcast on ESPN+ and locally on WDKB 94-9 FM as well as the NIU Huskies and Varsity Network apps.
 
For tickets, log on to NIUHuskies.com or call the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at (815) 753-PACK (7225). General Admission tickets are $6 with reserved seats at $8.
 
NIU (10-7, 2-4 MAC) returns to the Convocation Center after a 66-61 overtime loss at Eastern Michigan last Saturday. Seniors Chelby Koker (Racine, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) and A'Jah Davis (DeKalb, Ill./Montverde Academy [Fla.]) combined to score 46 points in the game, marking the fourth time the duo each had 20 points in a game this season. Koker led all scorers with 25 points, scoring 16 in the second and third quarters combined. She is in the top-10 of the Mid-American Conference in seven different statistical categories, including being fourth in assists (3.9/game), steals (2.1/game) and three-point percentage (37.0).
 
Davis had her 11^th double-double of the season with 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. She scored 12 points in the fourth quarter alone, converting a three-point play with 2:06 to go in regulation that tied the game at 57-57. Davis is eighth in the nation in rebounding, leading the MAC with 11.3 rebounds per game. She is also 10^th in double-doubles. Over the last 13 games, Davis is averaging 12.5 rebounds per game.
 
Wednesday night's game features two of the top three-point shooting teams in the MAC. Kent State leads the league with 8.5 three-pointers per game with NIU third at 8.2. Koker and Janae Poisson (Matteson, Ill./Marian Catholic) are both in the MAC in both three point percentage and threes per game. Poisson is shooting 35.4 percent from long range and averaging 2.35 three-pointers per game. The Golden Flashes have two players shooting over 35 percent from long range with Hannah Young at 42.9 percent and Clare Kelly at 39 percent.
 
Kent State (11-6, 3-3 MAC) is 3-3 in the MAC after a 66-57 loss at Bowling Green last Saturday. Graduate forward Lindsey Thall led Kent State with 15 points as Corynne Hauser added 13 points and four assists. Thall leads the Golden Flashes in scoring at 11.1 points per game. Kent State is second in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing under 62 points per game. The Huskies and Golden Flashes split last season's two meetings, with the home team victorious in both.
 
Following Wednesday's game, NIU hosts Bowling Green on Saturday, Jan. 28 for Diversity and Inclusion Day. Tip-off is at 1 p.m. It is the first game of a doubleheader with the NIU men's basketball team taking on Ball State at 3:30 p.m.
 
--NIU--