March 4, 2008

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DEKALB, Ill.-The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team will close out its 2007-08 regular season campaign in Muncie, Ind. when the Huskies take on Ball State Wednesday night.

"Ball State is a really good offensive team," NIU head coach Carol Owens. "Every team we've faced we've had opportunities. We have to play good defense. They're a team that likes to go in transition. [Porchia] Green takes control and we have to contain her. We have to go in with confidence."

Northern Illinois (10-16, 6-7) looks to snap a two-game losing streak Wednesday night when it takes on Ball State. This is the third game the Huskies are playing in five days. NIU lost its last game, 74-68, to Ohio. Originally scheduled for February 16th, the game was posted due to the tragic events on campus February 14th and was rescheduled for March 3.

Ball State enters play against the Huskies riding a four-game winning streak. The Cardinals defeated Western Michigan, 74-69 Saturday at home. Ball State is in a first-place tie with Eastern Michigan, but owns the tie breaker by virtue of a 2-0 mark against the Eagles this season.

Ball State holds a 20-13 edge in the all-time series between the two teams. The Cardinals swept all three games last year and are riding a nine-game winning streak. Ball State won the first meeting between the two schools earlier this year, 84-78, Jan. 12, 2008 at the Convocation Center. Whitney Lowe led all scorers with 24 points, going 10-20 from the field. All five Cardinal starters finished in double figures with Porchia Green posting a team-high 20 points.

The Huskies have a trio of starters averaging in double digits in scoring. As her career at NIU winds down, Whitney Lowe (Bushnell, Ill./Prairie City) continues to go out on a bang. The senior leads the way for the Huskies, averaging 11.5 points a game. Kylie York (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) follows with 10.6 points a game, while Jessie Wilcox (Oshkosh, Wis./West) rounds out the group with 10.3 points a game.

Tip off between the Cardinals and Huskies is set for 6 p.m. CST at Worthen Arena. Fans can follow all the action with Bill Baker on 1360 AM WLBK.