Feb. 10, 2010
Final Stats
DEKALB, Ill. - Carolyn Barnett scored a career-high 29 points to lead Ohio off the bench, and the `Cats scored 43 points in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome a big halftime deficit as they fell 68-61 on the road to Northern Illinois in the Convocation Center.
Ohio shot a sizzling 56.7 percent from the field in the second half and got a season-high 40 points off its bench on the night. The `Cats (6-18, 2-9 MAC) also held the Huskies to just nine field goals in the second half, but it was NIU's hot shooting in the opening half that cost the Green and White.
Barnett (North Chicago, Ill.) knocked down a career-best 11 field goals on 11-of-19 shooting and 5-of-7 from the line to account for her 29 points. The junior also added five rebounds and two steals. Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill) scored eight points and blocked a shot, while Tina Fisher (Cottage Grove, Minn.) and Jenny Poff each chipped in five. After reaching 1,000 career points her last time out, Jennifer Bushby (Gahanna, Ohio) showcased other aspects of her game, pulling down seven rebounds and handing out a game-high eight assists, a season best.
Defense dominated the first five minutes of play, with NIU (9-14, 3-8 MAC) staking claim to an early 6-2 lead behind a pair of buckets from Kylie York. Ohio battled back to pull within two at 12-10 after a driving layin by Barnett, before the Huskies knocked down a trey to go up by five with 8:13 left in the half.
Action remained even before NIU went on a big 13-3 run to extend its lead to 30-15 with 3:18 left in the half. The Huskies kept their smoldering shooting attack going and took a 39-18 lead into the lockerroom. Ohio could not get the rims to give as it struggled to 26.9 percent shooting for the half, while NIU shot 50 percent from the field. The `Cats enjoyed a strong half on the glass, outrebounding the Huskies 20-18 in the frame.
Barnett scored 10 of Ohio's first 12 points of the second frame, including a pair of three's, to pull the Green and White to 47-32 with 14:47 left. Symone Lyles (Silver Spring, Md.) knocked down a jumper to help the `Cats continue to chip away at the advantage and pull within 12 with 13:26 remaining. A pair of Barnett free throws pulled the Green within nine with 9:44 left.
Ohio continued its strong play, but NIU was equal to the task. The `Cats pulled within nine on a few other occasions, but the Huskies answered each time to keep the Green and White just out of reach. A Poff trey got Ohio to within 64-56 with 1:27 left, and Bushby hit a triple of her own to pull the `Cats to 65-59 with 45 seconds left, but that was as close as they would get as NIU took the win.
Mavvolyene Adams notched a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead three Huskies that scored in double figures. Marke Freeman chipped in 19, while Sarah Rogers added 12.
With their swing through the West Division complete, The `Cats will now resume MAC East play as they head to Bowling Green to battle the East's top team, the Bowling Green Falcons. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
