University of Toledo
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Toledo Falls Short at Northern Illinois, 73-70
2/21/2007 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats
DeKALB, IL - Northern Illinois claimed a hard-fought 73-70 victory over Toledo on Wednesday in Mid-American Conference at the Convocation Center. The Rockets (8-18, 4-10 MAC) overcame a 16-point second-half deficit and pulled within a single point on three occasions in the final 20 minutes, but were unable to pull off the road victory.
Sophomore Diana Reindl led four UT players in double figures with 18 points. Seniors Danielle Bishop (15 pts.) and Savannah Werner (14 pts) and freshman Allie Clifton (10 pts., 7 rbs) also tallied double digits in the loss. The Rockets shot a season-high 55.8 percent (29-of-52) from the field and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the charity stripe.
"I like the way our team played tonight," Ehlen said. "We battled all the way back and never gave up. We were very competitive, especially in the second half, and played with a lot of energy."
The Huskies' (17-9, 8-6 MAC) Stephanie Raymond paced the home team with a game-high 30 points and six assists. Kristen Weiner was the only other NIU player in double figures with 11 points.
The home team drained 13 triples in the contest, including five from Raymond, and shot 46.4 percent (13-of-28) from three-point land. They also cashed in at the charity stripe and converted 87.5 percent (14-of-16) to defeat the Rockets for the seventh time in the last 10 meetings.
"Stephanie was the difference in the game," Ehlen said. "She played pretty well tonight."
The Huskies came out strong and hit eight their first 12 shots from the field, including five of seven from beyond the arc, to grab a 22-16 lead at the 12:20 mark. Five NIU players connected on a triple in the first eight minutes of the contest.
The Rockets also shot the ball well to begin the contest, knocking down seven of their initial 11 shot attempts. Bishop fueled the visitors' strong start offensively with eight points.
NIU continued to shot lights out from three-point land as the first half wore on and three-consecutives triples pushed its lead to 33-21 with 9:20 remaining. Whitney Lowe hit two of the three treys to make it a 12-point difference.
As has been the case during UT's recent losing skid, the Midnight Blue and Gold's offense went cold over the next four minutes and the deficit grew to 41-27 at 3:24.
The Rockets could not cut the lead under double digits the rest of the half and trailed 43-33 at the intermission. Reindl and Bishop tallied 10 points apiece in the opening 20 minutes. UT shot an impressive 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from the field, while NIU connected on 48.4 percent (15-of-31) and 50.0 percent (8-of-16) from three-point land.
NIU's Raymond hit three triples in the opening three-plus minutes of the second stanza to extend the home team's lead to 54-38 with 16:14 left.
Facing a double-digit deficit, the Rockets went to work on both ends of the floor and utilized a 12-0 run to make the score 54-50 with 11:49 left in regulation. Clifton sparked the rally with six points.
UT kept on the attack and a deep triple by junior Kristi Zeller made it a one-point difference, 56-55, at 10:14. The visitors put themselves back in the contest behind 57.9 percent (11-of-19) shooting from the field in the first 10 minutes of the half.
Unfortunately, the Rockets could not get over the hump, as they turned the ball over on three straight possessions and missed a shot. NIU took advantage of the miscues and extended its lead back to four points over the next five minutes, 67-63.
UT had one final push in its arsenal and five-consecutive points from Werner and a layup by Reindl once again made it a one-point contest, 71-70, with 1:25 left. The Rockets had a chance to take the following a NIU turnover, but the visitors turned the ball over themselves with only 17 seconds left.
Toledo was forced to foul and Raymond hit both free throws to make it a three-point contest with 14 seconds remaining. The Rockets quickly pushed the ball up the floor and called their final timeout. UT set up a play for Clifton but her three-point attempt was blocked to make it a three-point final, 73-70.
"We had our chances to win down the stretch, but tonight Raymond and NIU were a little better," Ehlen said. "I thought our performance was good and I was proud we were able to be in a position late to win the game."
The Rockets return to action at home on Saturday, Feb. 24 to battle Central Michigan. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Hall.
UT will retire the No. 52 jersey of former women's basketball star Kim Knuth-Klaer at halftime of Saturday's contest.
