DeKALB, IL – Toledo outlasted Northern Illinois, 89-83, in overtime on Saturday in the Convocation Center. With the win, the Rockets improve to 16-11 overall, 11-5 in the Mid-American Conference.

Senior Brenae Harris paced UT with a game-high 21 points, followed closely by junior Janice Monakana with 20 and sophomore Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott had 18, respectively. The Midnight Blue & Gold also received 14 points from freshman Kaayla McIntyre to snap a two-game losing skid in DeKalb.

The Rockets outscored the Huskies (11-15, 4-12 MAC), 13-7, in the extra period to remain tied for third place in the overall MAC standings with two games left in the regular season. UT can clinch a first-round bye in the upcoming MAC Tournament with one more win or if Eastern Michigan (18-9, 9-7 MAC) and Akron (15-12, 9-7 MAC) lose one more contest.

UT shot an impressive 60.0 percent (3-of-5) from the floor and 7-of-11 from the charity stripe in overtime to win its second overtime contest in its last three games, while NIU was limited to 22.2 percent (2-of-9) and 3-of-5 in the same categories.

McIntyre was huge for the Rockets in overtime, scoring the first seven points to put them in front, 83-81, at the 1:15 mark. The local product was credited with three layups during this stretch, including an old-fashioned three-point play, to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.

Toledo then collected a defensive stop on NIU's ensuing possession, and the home team was forced to foul with only 48 seconds left in regulation.

Harris calmly knocked down a pair of free throws to extend the margin to four points, 85-81.

The Huskies' Ally Lehman made both of her charity tosses on their next trip down the floor, before UT's Monakana drained 3-of-4 free throws over the final 14 seconds to make the final score 89-83.  

As a team, the Rockets shot a sizzling 49.2 percent (32-of-65) from the field, including 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from beyond the arc, and 71.4 percent (20-of-28) from the free throw line.

Toledo also finished with a season-tying best 21 assists and only 11 turnovers. Bravo-Harriott triggered the offense with six helpers, while senior Ana Capotosto and Harris had five each.

Lehman led Northern Illinois with 18 points, a game-high 16 boards and a contest-best eight dimes. Cassidy Glenn added 17 points and Kelly Smith had 16 off the bench. Five of the seven Huskies that saw action scored in double figures.

At the outset, the Rockets took advantage of 13 points from Bravo-Harriott and Harris to assume a 19-17 lead after the first period. The duo shot a combined 6-of-9 from the field, while both playing nine of the 10 minutes, to put the visitors in front by two points.

In the second quarter, UT benefited from a quick 7-0 burst to create a 31-25 cushion at the 6:23 mark. Three different Rockets were credited with points during this stretch of a little over one minute to make it a two-possession difference.

The Huskies would respond on the strength of six-straight points from Smith in the waning moments to knot the score at 36-36 at the intermission. The home team also received a basket from Courntey Woods with just over one second left to tie the score for a seventh time.

Toledo came out red-hot to start the second half, hitting its first five shots from the field to force NIU into a timeout at the 7:41 mark. The Rockets rattled off 11 of the first 13 points to establish a 47-38 lead. Monakana and Harris were credited with all the points in the opening spurt to build a nine-point bulge.

UT continued to shoot the ball well from the floor as the period wore on, receiving a trey from freshman Halee Printz and an old-fashioned three-point play by Capotosto to push the margin to double figures, 62-52, after 30 minutes of competition.

The Huskies utilized an 8-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 67-62, prompting UT to signal a timeout with 6:08 left in regulation. Lehman sparked the rally with a pair of field goals to make it a two-possession contest.

The Rockets momentarily stopped NIU's momentum with a basket from McIntyre and a blocked shot from Harris on the next two possessions.

Unfortunately for Toledo, the home team scored the next eight points, sparked by back-to-back three-point field goals from Mikayla Voigt, to give them their first lead, 70-69, since early in the second stanza.

Moments later, Northern Illinois pushed its advantage to three points, 74-71, after Lehman scored consecutive field goals with only 95 seconds left in regulation.

UT turned to its heralded freshman McIntyre, who delivered another old-fashioned three-point play to tie the score at 74-74 with 1:09 remaining.

Following a NIU miscue, Toledo recaptured the lead on the strength of a 15-foot jumper by Harris with 19.7 seconds left.

Northern Illinois immediately called a timeout to set up a play for Lehman, who converted a jumper with 8.6 seconds remaining.

Toledo had a chance to win the division match-up in regulation, but Harris' shot at the buzzer was off the mark to extend play five minutes.

The Rockets will return to the court on Wednesday, March 2 when they host MAC West Division frontrunner Central Michigan (19-8, 13-3 MAC). The opening tip versus the Chippewas is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and can be seen on ESPN3.

UT and CMU will meet for the second time in less than two weeks and 77th time overall. The Rockets secured an 81-79 overtime victory against the Chippewas in McGuirk Arena on Feb. 20. 

Toledo holds a 46-30 (.605) advantage in the all-time series, including a 25-11 (.694) edge in contests played at home. The Midnight Blue & Gold has won eight of the last nine meetings against Central Michigan in the friendly confines of Savage Arena.

A season ago, UT claimed a 62-53 triumph versus CMU at home (Feb. 28).