PDF Box
DEKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois strung together a series of runs in the third quarter to take a 14 point lead over Eastern Illinois women's basketball into the fourth quarter. The Huskies kept their offensive momentum going in the final ten minutes beating the Panthers 78-59.
EIU falls to 4-5 overall on the year while NIU improves to 6-4.
The Panthers found success from the field early in the game shooting 66.7 percent in the first quarter. They went on a 12-0 run midway through to take a 16-6 lead over NIU. The Huskies would close out the first ten minutes with a 5-0 run to trail by three points going into the second quarter.
EIU was outscored 16-14 in the second quarter, but the Panthers managed to hold on to a three-point lead heading into the second half.
Karle Pace and
Taylor Steele combined for 11 points in the second quarter to lead EIU.
The Panthers second-half offense went cold as the Huskies found their rhythm. In the last 8:53 of the third quarter, NIU went on a 30-7 run as Mikayla Voigt led the team with 11 points, while Gabby Nikitinaite added seven points. The Huskies held the Panthers to 27 second half points and forced them to shoot under 30 percent from the field.
Voigt led all-scorers with 25 points. She also grabbed a game-high nine boards finishing just shy of a double-double. Nikitinaite and Myia Starks finished in double-figures with 16 and 13 points, respectively.
Pace was the only EIU player to record double-figures. She poured in 22 points to lead the Panthers and record her seventh consecutive game with at least ten points.
Jennifer Nehls grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, while
Grace Lennox had a team-best three assists.
The Panthers will open a four game home stand Friday Dec. 21 vs. Indiana State at 6 pm in Lantz arena.