Huskies Advance to Finals with a Big Victory Over the Broncos
Cleveland, Oh- After a Wednesday where the top 3 teams lost, The Northern Illinois Huskies showed why they are the best team left in the tournament with a 83-55 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos. The Broncos where coming off a victory over the number 1 team Central Michigan on Wednesday. The Huskies had the lead for the entire game and shot very well from the floor, shooting 44 percent and 37 percent from three. The Huskies where led by Ally Lehman who put in 17 points with 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Also for the Huskies Courtney Woods added 19 points as well, hit multiple threes along the way. Northern Illinois will play the winner of the Buffalo-Toledo game tomorrow for the MAC Championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Courtney Woods opened up the game with the first basket for Northern Illinois on their first possession. The Western Michigan team then went on a small 6-0 run then North Illinois answered with 5 quick points of their own and half way through the first quarter Western Michigan held a small 8 to 7 lead. After the timeout, North Illinois went on a 9-0 which was led by Ally Lehman who score 5 during the run to give the Huskies a 16-8 lead. To end the first quarter Northern Illinois ended on a 11-2 run and led 18-10 after 1. Lehman had 7 for Northern Illinois, while for Western Michigan Najee Smith has 4.
To open up the second quarter, the Huskies went on a 12-6 run. Hitting a few threes along the way, to extend their lead to 30-16. As the quarter progressed, the Huskies counited to score while Western Michigan struggled to get any offense going. As the quarter drew to a close, Western Michigan hit their first three, and got some offense going after that. But the quarter ended and at half time the Huskies held a 20 point lead over the Broncos 44-24. Northern Illinois shot 52.3% from the floor and 43% from three. While Western Michigan only shot 26% and 18 percent from three. For the Huskies Lehman has 9 points while Kelly Smith added another 8 points. For Western Michigan Breanna Mobley leads all scorers with 10 and also had 6 rebounds.
After the third Quarter, no ground was made by the Broncos as the Huskies still held a 20 point lead 62-42. It was the highest scoring quarter to that point. For the Huskies Courtney Woods caught fire and hit 2 threes in the quarter and for Western Michigan Brenna Mobley continued her good game as she ended the quarter with a double-double having 17 points and 12 rebounds.
