The NIU women’s basketball team had total control Wednesday night at the Convocation Center, particularly on one area of the floor.

The Huskies controlled the paint as Shari’ Welton and Whitney Lowe combined for 20 rebounds in NIU’s 69-49 victory over Toledo (9-8 overall, 2-3 MAC). Welton skyed for 9 boards, 4 on the offensive end, while Lowe reached a new career high, pulling 11 off the glass to accompany her 15 points.

“[Rebounding] was Shari’ and I’s jobs before this game,” Lowe said. “It’s something we’ve been focusing on all week and it’s what our team needed.”

The Huskies (6-12, 2-3) have been working on controlling the paint all season. It paid off last night as NIU out-rebounded Toledo 48-36.

“They were really getting on me this week about rebounding,” Welton said. “I’m capable of doing it, and I feel like I’ve been selling my team short lately with my rebounding, and I felt like I needed to step it up today.”

Rebounding was not the only area in which the Huskies excelled. NIU scored 32 points in the paint and its 17 offensive rebounds led to 18 second-chance points.

“Sometimes we don’t necessarily shoot that well from the three-point line, but that’s not going to determine how we play,” said NIU head coach Carol Owens. “We’ve been a very good defensive team and a very good rebounding team and those are things we can control.“

Along with her 9 rebounds, Welton finished the night with 11 points. The guard cut and slashed through the Rocket defense to convert on four layups in the game.

“Coach is always wanting me to focus on getting shots close to the basket because that would open my game up,” Welton said.

NIU reached the free-throw line 13 times Wednesday night, sinking 10 from behind the line. The Huskies’ trips to the line were a result of driving to the basket and drawing fouls - all a result of playing in the paint.

“We can control driving to the basket, getting to the foul line and getting points in the paint,” Owens said. “That’s what we wanted to do tonight.”

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