DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team cut a 13-point deficit against the UMass Minutewomen down to three midway through the third quarter Tuesday night, but the visitors pulled away and went on to win 75-54 at the NIU Convocation Center.
 
"We knew coming into the game that UMass is a really good team," said head coach Jacey Brooks. "We had to be able to execute our defensive gameplan. There were some glimpses of some good things from us, but at the end of the day the last 10 minutes got away from us."
 
Junior forward Nevaeh Wingate (Liverpool, N.Y./St. John's) led NIU with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. Marta Hermoso (Seville, Spain/McNeese) added a career-high 13 points and four steals, going 5-for-8 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line.
 
"I'm super proud of Marta's effort tonight," Brooks said. "We go through finishes with our post players in practice every day. To see that carry over for Marta, we all know she has the ability to do that. She has a nice touch around the rim. There aren't many games where Marta shoots the ball eight times so it was nice to see her be aggressive. "
 
UMass (17-5, 9-2 MAC) opened the game with a 13-4 run in the first 4:25, getting six points from Megan Olbrys and four from Chineney Odenigbo. The Minutewomen led 18-5 when Sa'Mahn Johnson (Columbus, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) scored four straight points to make the score 18-9 with 1:32 to play in the quarter. UMass shot 50 percent from the floor in the quarter to take a 19-9 lead.
 
NIU (5-19, 2-10 MAC) used a 7-2 run early in the second quarter to get within seven, 23-16, with 5:20 to play until halftime. Teresa Mbemba (Benguela, Angola/Presbyterian) scored the first four points with Wingate adding a three-point play. The two teams traded baskets until UMass' Ayanna Franks made a three with 2:42 to go in the second to put the Minutewomen ahead 33-23. Emilie Sorensen (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee) put in two free throws with 1:05 to go to make the halftime score 33-25.
 
Down 37-25, the Huskies went on a 9-0 run over 2:12 in the third quarter. Hermoso scored the first four points of the run, with a Sorensen layup and Wingate three-point play getting NIU within three 37-34 with 6:14 to play in the period.
 
"We were able to flow into our offense better," said Brooks. "They went man, so we knew some quick hitters we could get to. We executed them and got good looks, but then UMass went back to a zone and we struggled to score.
 
UMass held NIU to one field goal for the remainder of the quarter. The Minutewomen went on a 14-2 run with eight points from Yahmani McKayle to take a 51-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter. McKayle made a three to start the fourth, helping extend the run into a 21-4 run that put the Minutewomen up 20, 58-38, with 8:15 to play. NIU only got as close as 17 points the rest of the way.
 
NIU shot 37 percent from the field and was just 1-for-17 from the three-point line. UMass shot 49.2 percent from the field and outscored the Huskies 40-32 in the paint. McKayle led all scorers with 21 points, adding five rebounds and seven assists. Olbrys had a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
The Huskies close out their current three-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 14 against the Akron Zips. Tip-off at the Convocation Center is at 1 p.m. Tickets are on sale at NIUHuskies.com/tickets and by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
--NIU--