Senior Day always tends to bring out special performances among final-year athletes.

This time, however, the NIU women’s basketball team was on the short end, as the Huskies dropped a 64-57 decision to Eastern Michigan.

“We’re disappointed we didn’t get the win, but I felt like our team battled,” NIU head coach Carol Owens said. “We’ve got to finish against a team like that.”

Senior Whitney Lowe led NIU (10-15 overall, 6-6 MAC) with 16 points and six rebounds. However, it was EMU (16-11, 10-5) senior Colleen Russell who turned in the exceptional game. The center put up a game-high 25 points and grabbed eight boards.

“We can’t let Russell go off like she did against us,” Owens said. “Overall, she got too many points and she set the tempo.”

Russell, who is listed at 6–foot–5, dominated the inside game and played a large role in the Eagles’ out-rebounding NIU 39-32.

“[I] just wanted to do what I can [for the team],” Russell said. “If I got the ball, I felt I had an open shot [every time].”

NIU opened the game flat. In the first half, the Huskies shot only 24 percent from the field and 10 percent from 3-point range.

“We were 1-of-10 from the 3-point line [in the first half],” Owens said. “When a team is playing zone, we have to hit some of those shots.”

EMU guard Alyssa Pittman had a hot hand in the first half, hitting three 3-pointers. However, in the second half, Owens placed guard Shari’ Welton on man-to-man defense against Pittman and held her scoreless.

“She’s a shooter and she has deep range,” Welton said. “You definitely have to be aware of where she is.”

NIU came out stronger in the second half, and at one point tied the game at 35, but that tie was as close as it would come.

“We just couldn’t convert,” Owens said. “We weren’t quick enough to make them pay on the other end.”

NIU will look to rebound from the loss today. The Huskies will host Ohio University at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

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