TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team erased an 18-point second quarter deficit Wednesday night against the Indiana State Sycamores to take a fourth quarter lead, but the hosts took the lead right back and came away with a 69-61 win at the Hulman Center.

"I was really happy with our effort, that we were able to come back and put three quarters together," said head coach Jacey Brooks. "We changed up our defensive strategy and it worked in the second half, but Indiana State made a couple key shots late."

Freshman guard Sa'Mahn Johnson (Columbus, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) led the Huskies with 19 points. Johnson was 10-for-12 from the free throw line and scored in double figures for the third time in the last four games.

"I was really proud of her tonight," Brooks said. "We were going to her a lot. I give her a lot of credit along with the other freshmen. They're not playing freshmen minutes. I'm excited to see them continue to learn and grow. They're earning my trust and they carried us tonight."

Emilie Sorensen (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee) added eight points and four rebounds. Teresa Mbemba (Benguela, Angola/Presbyterian) had 10 points and seven rebounds. Maria Serracanta (Sabadell, Spain/Mercer) had a game-high six assists and led NIU with nine rebounds.

Indiana State (4-3) shot 45 percent from the field in the first quarter to take a 26-10 lead. Amerie Flowers gave the Sycamores their largest lead of the night with her layup 0:20 into the second quarter, making the score 28-10. Johnson responded with NIU's first three of the night and added two free throws to make the score 30-15 with 8:09 to play before halftime. Down 34-17, NIU went on a 12-2 run capped by a Sorensen three-pointers to get NIU within seven 36-29 with 2:33 left in the second. Mbemba had five points in that stretch and made the last basket of the half to make the score 40-31.

NIU (2-6) used a 9-0 run in the middle of the third quarter to get within four, 47-43, with 0:49 left in the stanza. Sorensen sparked the run with a three-point play at the 5:10 mark as Nevaeh Wingate (Liverpool, N.Y./St. John's) scored four points in that stretch. The Sycamores extended the lead to eight by the end of the quarter as Tierney Kelsey scored four points in the final six seconds to put the score at 53-45.

The Huskies made one last run in the fourth quarter. NIU scored the first 10 points of the fourth to take a 55-53 lead with 5:38 to play. Johnson was 5-for-6 from the free throw line in that run and made the basket that put the Huskies in front. Flowers answered with six straight points of her own to give the Sycamores a 59-55 lead with 3:41 remaining. Johnson made two foul shots to get NIU within two, but a Kennedy Claybrooks three got Indiana State a five-point lead with under 3:00 to go.

NIU shot 38.5 percent from the field and was 19-for-30 from the free throw line. The Huskies held Indiana State to 37.3 percent from the floor and eight points under their season average. The Sycamores outrebounded NIU 39-36. NIU forced 14 turnovers and scored 20 points off of them. Kelsey led all scorers with 22 points as Flowers added a double-double of 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

"We're growing and we have to continue to trust this process," said Brooks. "This one stings a little bit because we want that first quarter back, but overall I was pleased with how we got back into the game."

The Huskies take on a ranked opponent for the first time in three years on Sunday when NIU heads to #10 Iowa State on Sunday, Dec. 7. Tip-off at Hilton Coliseum is at 1 p.m. CT.

—NIU—