DeKALB, IL - The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team scored the final five points on Saturday against the Texas State Bobcats, with Nevaeh Wingate's (Liverpool, N.Y./St. John's) layup with 0.6 seconds left got the Huskies a 71-69 win at the NIU Convocation Center.

"I'm really proud, excited and happy with our effort for 40 minutes today," said head coach Jacey Brooks as NIU snapped a four-game losing streak. "The last two seconds made me the most proud. Basketball is a game of runs and when we got on a heels we were still battling. When Texas State made a big shot, we made a big shot. I saw so much growth from our team today."

NIU (5-18) went on a 7-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, sparked by an Emilie Sorensen (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee) three, to take a 64-58 lead with 5:12 to play. Texas State answered with three straight three-pointers from Saniya Burks and Mia Galbraith to go up 67-64 with 2:54 to play. Sorensen tied the game at 69-69 with 1:16 to play on her sixth three-pointer of the game. After the two teams traded scoreless possessions, Texas State had a chance to take the lead with 0:32 to go. The Huskies forced a shot clock violation to earn an opportunity to win the game with 0:02. On the ensuing inbounds, Maria Serracanta (Sabadell, Spain/Mercer) found Wingate under the basket for the layup that put NIU up 71-69 with 0.6 seconds left. Texas State turned the ball over on their last possession, giving NIU its fifth win of the year.

"It's nerve wracking a little bit because it's the last shot," Wingate said. "When Coach drew it up, I made sure I knew what I had to do and made my layup."

Wingate finished the game with 21 points, going 8-for-14 from the field with a team-high six rebounds. Sorensen also had 21 points, making a season-high six three-pointers and adding five rebounds. Serracanta had a game-high seven assists.

"I'm proud of Emilie that she kept shooting," Brooks said. "She kept her confidence when Texas State when zone. Kudos to the girls for finding her in open spots. That three in the corner  to tie the game was huge. I'm proud of her that she kept that composure and confidence."

The Huskies used a 9-0 run over 5:21 in the first half to build a 22-11 lead with 6:34 left in the second quarter. Texas State scored the next seven points as a Kyra Anderson layup made the score 22-18 with 3:44 to go in the half. Anderson scored six straight points late in the quarter to get the Bobcats within one, 27-26 with 0:53 left until halftime. Cyra Conwell (Chicago, Ill./Butler College Prep) made two free throws with 0:02 left to give NIU a 29-26 halftime lead.

Texas State (10-13) used another 7-0 run at the start of the third to take a 33-30 lead with 8:11 left in the quarter. After the Huskies took back the lead 38-37 on a Wingate basket, Mia Galbraith made a layup to start an 11-5 Bobcats run that put Texas State up 47-42 with 0:56 left in the third. The Huskies scored the final four points of the third on layups from Marta Hermoso (Seville, Spain/McNeese) and Teresa Mbemba (Benguela, Angola/Presbyterian) to cut the Bobcats' lead to one, 47-46, going into the fourth.

NIU shot 66.7 percent from the field in the fourth quarter to finish the game shooting 44.6 percent. The Huskies tied their season-high for threes with nine and shot 75 percent from the free throw line. NIU also held a 31-26 edge on the glass, turning 10 offensive rebounds into 14 second chance points.

Anderson led all scorers with 23 points for Texas State. Galbraith added 16 points and was 4-for-4 from long range.

NIU continues its current homestand on Tuesday, Feb. 10 against UMass. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT at the NIU Convocation Center. Tickets are on sale at NIUHuskies.com/tickets and by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).

—NIU—