MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team held a 21-18 lead over the Central Michigan Chippewas Saturday at McGuirk Arena but could not keep up with the Chippewas' three-point shooting in an 89-51 loss in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.

Central Michigan (7-4, 1-0 MAC) shot 50 percent from the three-point line, making 14 of 28 attempts. The Huskies were 5-for-11 from long range for 45.5 percent but were just 1-for-4 in the second half.

NIU (2-9, 0-1 MAC) bounced back from an early 7-2 deficit to take an 11-9 lead at the 5:11 mark of the first. Teresa Mbemba (Benguela, Angola/Presbyterian) scored four straight points to give the Huskies their first lead of the day. Ayanna-Sarai Darrington tied the game at 11 with 4:51 left in the opening quarter but Nevaeh Wingate (Liverpool, N.Y./St. John's) sparked a 7-0 NIU run with back-to-back baskets to get the Huskies an 18-11 lead at the 2:51 mark. Madi Morson scored CMU's last seven points of the quarter, making a three with 0:01 left to make the score 21-18.

CMU used a 10-0 run over 5:12 in the second quarter to take a 28-23 lead. Riley Smith and Jayda Mosley both hit a three for the Chippewas in that stretch. Marta Hermoso (Seville, Spain/McNeese) snapped a 6:17 field goal drought for the Huskies with a triple at the 3:18 mark to get the Huskies within two at 28-26. Hermoso made two free throws with 1:29 to go before halftime to get NIU within one, 31-30, but Morson put CMU up 34-30 at the break with another late three-pointer.

"I was happy with our effort in the first half," said head coach Jacey Brooks. "We came out ready to play. Our zone on defense disrupted what Central Michigan wanted to do. We forced 14 turnovers but they made their shots when they didn't turn it over."

The Chippewas used a 10-0 run midway through the third quarter to go up 47-33 with 4:04 to play, with six points coming from the free throw line. NIU shot just 1-for-9 from the field in the third, however the Huskies made up for it by being 11-for-14 from the free throw line. CMU closed the quarter on a 10-1 run as threes by Rylan Buschell and Nekhu Mitchell put the Chippewas up 65-43. CMU led by as much as 40 in the fourth quarter to come away with the 89-51 win.

"Nothing came easy for us in the second half," Brooks said. "Credit to CMU for making the adjustments. We're trying to get better each and every day and I can't wait for the moment when we put a complete game together."

CMU shot 49.2 percent from the field and was 11-for-12 from the free throw line. NIU was held to 28.8 percent from the field. Wingate led NIU with 10 points as Mbemba and Hermoso added nine points each. Hermoso's nine points tied her career high. Sorensen had eight points and a team-high five rebounds. Morson led all players with 26 points.

NIU wraps up it's current six-game road trip on Monday, Dec. 29 at St. Thomas. Tip-off is at 2 p.m. CT.

—NIU—