Nov. 20, 2008

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DEKALB, Ill.-The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team looks to build on it's 70-48 victory over Western Illinois when the Huskies travel to South Orange, N.J. to compete in the Seton Hall Classic Nov. 21-22.

"This will be a good challenge for us," NIU head coach Carol Owens said. "UMBC is a good team. They're going to be scrappy. They shoot the ball very well and we've got to be ready for that. We have to defend their shooters and get in the passing lanes."

The Huskies (1-1) open the tournament against UMBC Friday night with tip off set for 7 p.m. Central time. NIU will face either Wagner or host Seton Hall Saturday at either noon or 2 p.m. Central time depending on Friday's results. Northern Illinois has never faced any of the other three teams in the field.

Northern Illinois has a 3-1 record in tournament play the last two seasons. The Huskies went 1-1 at least season's Hawkeye Challenge (Dec. 8-9, 2007) and won the Mildred and Roger L. White Tournament hosted by Northwestern (Dec. 1-2), going 2-0 to win the tournament.

NIU had an impressive showing in their victory over the Westerwinds Tuesday night. Three Huskies finished in double figures, with Jessie Wilcox (Oshkosh, Wis./West) leading all scorers with 16 points, with 14 coming in the first half. Wilcox went 5-11 from the field including 4-9 from beyond the arc.

"The Western Illinois victory was good for our momentum," Owens said. "It showed how well we can play. We have to maintain that and it's going to come with time."

Kylie York (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) went 3-8 from beyond the arc and finished with 11 points. Ebony Ellis (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Township) was solid in the post, scoring 10 points, while Mauvolyene Adams (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) recorded a career-high in rebounds with 13.