CHICAGO - The Northern Illinois women's basketball team rallied from a 14-point second half deficit to defeat Chicago State, 66-61, Sunday afternoon at the Jones Convocation Center.
The win is the third straight for the Huskies, who finished their non-conference season at 6-6 and open Mid-American Conference play Wednesday night at Toledo.
The Huskies trailed 47-33 to CSU when freshman Brittney Callahan hit a three-pointer with 12:50 left to spark an NIU run. Northern Illinois then outscored Chicago State 20-10, capped by a Kylie York three-pointer, to get within one point with five minutes left.
Mauvolyene Adams who sat from almost the entire game with foul trouble, sunk a lay-up to give NIU a 58-57 lead. Adams followed with two more buckets to extend the Huskie lead to five and help seal the win.
York got the Huskies off to a quick start with back-to-back three-pointers, and Courtney Shelton followed with another to give NIU a 9-5 lead five minutes into the contest. Chicago State answered with a 14-0 run, but a 14-9 NIU spurt to finish the half brought the Huskies within two. NIU entered the locker room down 34-32 despite being outshot from the field by 24 percent.
Chicago State opened the second half on fire, extending the lead by 12 to 47-33, before Callahan ignited the NIU offense and the comeback win.
Junior forward Ebony Ellis recorded her third consecutive double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. York led NIU in scoring with 15 points, and contributed five assists to go with a career-high six steals. Marke Freeman contributed 13 points, three assists and four steals.
