NIU shot the lights out in the first half of Wednesday’s 73-66 victory over Akron at the Convocation Center.

The Huskies (11-10, 6-2 MAC) shot 61 percent in the first half. The second half, however, was a different story. NIU only shot 27 percent after halftime.

“I thought we got a little careless with the ball [in the second half],” said NIU head coach Carol Owens. “You can’t take possessions off.”

A 40-26 halftime lead shrank to a 3-point lead with 49 seconds left in regulation. But the Huskies made their free throws to put the game away.

“Great win: any win in the MAC is great,” Owens said. “We found a way down the stretch to win the game. We got some key free throws.”

Mauvolyene Adams led NIU in scoring with 17 points while Ebony Ellis had her third straight double-double and sixth of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jessie Wilcox scored 15 points, her fourth straight game with at least 15.

“I think it’s about determination,” Adams said of her performance. “Knowing my teammates are counting on me just as much as I’m counting on them.”

Akron (8-13, 3-5 MAC) was led by forward Kara Murphy. Murphy went 7-15 from the field and had 27 points for the Zips including 18 in the second half.

As a team, Akron shot 50 percent in the second half, up 10 percent from its first half total.

“Give our kids credit; in the second half they came back and fought,” said Akron head coach Jodi Kest. “I thought we had a lot more energy in that second half.”

With the win, NIU remains tied for second in the MAC West, one game behind division-leading Ball State. The Huskies’ next game is Saturday at Kent State.

“We feel like we can compete for the MAC title,” Owens said. “At the beginning of the season, I thought it was anybody’s [to win].”

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