Feb. 11, 2009
DEKALB, Illinois- A 56 percent shooting performance in the second half by Northern Illinois helped the Huskies defeat the Miami women's basketball team 80-66 Wednesday night. The RedHawks fall to 13-10 overall and 5-5 in the Mid-American Conference. NIU is 12-11 and 7-3 in the MAC.
Neither team was hitting their shots early in the first half. Miami's defense held NIU to 5-for-18 shooting to start the game. A three-point basket by Maggie Boyer gave the RedHawks a 5-4 advantage, but an 8-5 run by the Huskies gave Northern a 12-10 lead with 11:37 remaining. The teams traded the lead for the majority of the half as neither was able to build more than a two-point advantage. With the score tied at 22 after a Lillian Pitts jumper, NIU went on a 7-0 run to take a 29-22 lead with 2:26 left. Courtney Reed broke up the run with a free throw and a three-pointer to pull Miami within three, but Becky Smith hit a jumper to close the period and give the Huskies a 31-26 lead at the break.
The RedHawks held NIU to 31.6 percent shooting (12-for-38) during the first half, but a 27-18 rebound advantage, including 11 offensive caroms helped Northern build the lead.
Another three-pointer from Boyer, as well as baskets from Schone and Reed quickly brought Miami to within two at 37-35 early in the second half. NIU's three-point shooting heated up from there as it went on a 10-4 to build the lead up 47-39. After the RedHawks made it a four-point game thanks to a layup from Stephanie Ford, the Huskies' Aileen Rossouw hit four straight layups to give NIU a 56-47 lead at the 11:39 mark.
A layup by Pitts brought the score to 58-52 in favor of the Huskies, but Jessie Wilcox heated up with two three-point baskets that allowed NIU to put the game away.
Reed led Miami with 15 points, while Ford contributed 14. Jaclyn Leininger had 10 rebounds for the RedHawks, who shot 41 percent (23-for-55) for the game.
The RedHawks return home on Sat. Feb. 14 for a 4 p.m. (note the time change!) game against Eastern Michigan. That will be Miami's "Think Pink" game and fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer research. The game is also part of a doubleheader that will see the men take on Western Michigan at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
