Women's Basketball | February 27

DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team opens its final homestand of the regular season on Saturday when it hosts the Eastern Michigan Eagles at the NIU Convocation Center for Cram The Convo. Tip-off is at 1 p.m.
 
The game is the first of a doubleheader with the NIU men's basketball team facing Ball State in the second game. Tickets are on sale at NIUHuskies.com/tickets and by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and locally on 94-9 WDKB and the NIU Huskies app.
 
With Saturday's games being a Black Out, fans are encouraged to wear black to support the Huskies. Victor E. Threads is offering a 10% discount on all black apparel for the day. Fans can also bring a gently used clothing donation for The Huskie Closet and receive an exclusive 15% discount on any Victor E. Threads merchandise. Valid on 2/28/26 only. It's your chance to cheer, give back, and look good doing it.
 
Concessions is offering $4 beer, seltzers and popcorn for both games. NIU Women's Basketball is welcoming back all alumni on Saturday and will be recognizing them during the game.
 
NIU (5-22, 2-13) looks to bounce back from a 65-60 loss at Western Michigan last Saturday. The Huskies got a 19-point deficit in the second quarter down to two in the fourth quarter but couldn't get any closer. NIU shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, going 5-for-9 from the three-point line.
 
Maria Serracanta (Sabadell, Spain/Mercer) and Sa'Mahn Johnson (Columbus, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) both led the Huskies in scoring with 14 points. Serrcanta was 5-for-7 from the field and added five rebounds and four assists while playing all 40 minutes. She is second in the Mid-American Conference with a 1.86 assist/turnover ratio. Serracanta has had 11 assists in the last three games with only one turnover.
 
Johnson led NIU in scoring for the second straight game last Saturday. She also had a game-high 17 points at Kent State on Feb. 18. The freshman has scored in double figures eight times this season, seven of which have come in a reserve role.
 
Eastern Michigan (12-14, 5-10 MAC) is coming off a 78-60 loss to MAC leader Miami on Wednesday night. The RedHawks were 11-for-29 from the three-point line while holding the Eagles to 22.2 percent from long range. Fernanda Ovalle led Eastern Michigan with 21 points. Sisi Eleko added 12 point and six rebounds. Eleko is second in the MAC in scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
 
The Eagles won the first meeting this season between the two teams 72-62 at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 24. NIU was within two points, 61-59, with 5:43 to play in the game before Eastern Michigan went on an 11-1 run to go up 12. Eleko led all players with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Nadechka Laccen (San Juan, Puerto Rico/St. Bonaventure) led the Huskies with 18 points.
 
NIU will host Buffalo on Wednesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. for the final home game of the regular season. The Huskies will honor the five seniors on the team – Teresa Mbemba, Nadechka Laccen, Maria Serracanta, Marta Hermoso and Reagan Barkema – for Senior Night.
 
--NIU--