Dec. 31, 2011

Final Stats

Final Box: DPU 65, NIU 46

DPU 65, NIU 46   McGrath-Phillips Arena | Chicago, Ill.

1st 2nd Final  Northern Illinois 25 21 46  Eastern Illinois 22 43 65   Box Score | Box Score Attendance: 2,805  Player of the Game Amanda Corral Points: 7 Rebounds: 10 Steals: 2 Assists: 4  Team Stats NIU OPP  FG Percentage 30.5 37.5  3-Point FG Percentage 25.0 15.8  FT Percentage 72.7 77.8  Offensive Rebounds 12 12  Defensive Rebounds 29 31  Total Rebounds 41 43  Assists 7 12  Turnovers 20 12  Blocks 1 10  Steals 6 13  Points in the Paint 6 26  Points Off Turnovers 15 23  Second Chance Points 7 18  Women's Basketball Quick Links · NIU Women's Hoops on Facebook · 2011-12 Schedule/Results · 2011-12 Statistics · Head Coach Kathi Bennett

CHICAGO- In a tale of two completely different halves, the Northern Illinois women's basketball team fell 65-46 to No. 19/21 DePaul on Saturday afternoon at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Down 25-22 halftime, the Blue Demons (13-2, 1-0 Big East) outscored NIU (6-6, 0-0 Mid-American) 43-21 in the second half en route to their 18th straight win over the Huskies in as many years.

The Huskie defense was in full-force in the first half as NIU held the Blue Demons, who entered the game with a 45 percent field goal percentage and 37 percent three-point mark, to an 8-for-31 (25.8 percent) performance from the field in the first half, including a dismal 1-for-12 (8.3 percent) showing from behind the arc.

Meanwhile, the Huskies crashed the offensive glass (9-5) and shot just a little better (11-for-33, 33 percent) than DePaul to build a 25-22 lead at the half. The Huskies actually held a comfortable five-point edge twice in the half following jumpers by Courtney Shelton (Rockford, Ill./Hononegah) and Satavia Taylor (Bolingbrook, Ill./BolingBrook/Loyola).

But then all the momentum and good vibes disappeared during the halftime break as DePaul stormed out of the locker room with a 14-0 run to grab a commanding 36-25 lead. It took NIU nearly six minutes (5:48) to respond as Alicia Johnson (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) sank a pair of free throws to put the deficit under 10 points.

"We came out really flat to start the second half," said NIU Head Coach Kathi Bennett. "Our size -- they are a little bigger -- they wore us down a little. Our energy, fire, and alertness were definitely off in that first stretch of the second half until the media timeout. We took quick shots, which killed us in transition, and gave them transition opportunities. We played great the first 20 minutes and for about seven minutes of the second half as we competed and did our best to finish. That first six or seven minutes of the second half were lacking."

However, the Blue Demons would eventually extend the lead to 20 points, 61-41, with 4:20 left in the game and the Huskies did not have enough fire power to hold off Blue Demon Head Coach Doug Bruno's 500th career win and end DePaul's large home winning streak. The streak now stands at 27 games and ranks second in program history and sixth in the nation among active streak in Division I basketball.

"I would like to congratulate Coach Bruno on his 500th career win," Bennett said. "I think besides my dad and my brother, he is one of my favorite coaches. I really respect him and the job he's done. I appreciate the opportunity to compete against him."

Strongly contrasting the first half, DePaul shot 48.5 percent from the field in the second half and held NIU to 26.9 percent. Anna Martin led the Blue Demons with a game-high 30 points as she scored her 1,000th career point.

Taylor led NIU with eight points, while Kim Davis (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township), Claire Jakubicek (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove), Amanda Corral (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) and Johnson had seven points apiece.

With the non-conference schedule complete, the Huskies stand at 6-6, which is nearly identical to where they stood a year ago (6-7) as they started Mid-American Conference play. But unlike last year, NIU is heading into conference play on much better terms. Last season, the Huskies dropped four of their last six games prior to starting the MAC slate. This year, NIU has won four of its last seven games.

The Huskies begin league play with a 7 PM CT home contest against Central Michigan on Thursday, Jan. 5, at the NIU Convocation Center.