Women’s college basketball: Missing two starters, NIU falls to Bowling Green

DeKALB – Already missing one starter for the year, the Northern Illinois University women’s basketball team played Wednesday against Bowling Green without Errin Hodges.

The Huskies trailed by 10 early but took a lead with less than two minutes remaining only to fall, 64-54, to the Falcons. It was the third game the Huskies played without Chelby Koker, who will miss the season – in addition to being without Hodges.

“It’s obviously an adjustment, Chelby is a big part of our offense,” said NIU post A’Jah Davis, who had 15 points and 14 rebounds in her third straight double-double. “We rally around each other and everyone is making plays. Like coach said last game, it may not be the same person every night as long, as someone steps up to get the job done.”

On Wendesday, Sidney McCrea stepped up, shooting 3 of 3 from long distance. She hit a 3-pointer early in the third that tied the game at 44. Bowling Green stayed on top but never extended the lead past three.

That let the Huskies (8-12 overall, 5-7 MAC) take a 53-52 lead on a pair of Davis free throws with 1:53 left. But the Falcons (11-8, 6-4) scored 10 of next 11 points to seal the win. NIU went the final 3:48 without a field goal.

“Coach is really good about preaching just do your job,” McCrea said. “My teammates did a real good job of finding me in positions where I could do my job, which is shoot the ball.”

The Huskies struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 20% from the floor in the first 20 minutes of the game.

Davis played only 6 minutes of the first half because of full trouble, but played almost the entirety of the second half.

“She makes all the difference in the world for us in a lot of ways,” NIU coach Lisa Carlsen said. “Anytime we are in a situation we have to play extended without her it makes it difficult for us. I think that’s the difference from the first to the second half. Not just the ability to score the basketball, but her ability to facilitate out of a double team.”

Janae Poisson added 10 points and five rebounds for the Huskies. Mikayla Brandon had eight boards, as NIU finished with a 40-37 edge on the glass. Elissa Brett, averaging less than 10 points a game for the Falcons, scored a career best 22 points.

The team previously announced Koker is out for the year. Carlsen said Hodges is day-to-day.

Jayden Marable made her third start of the year, taking over for Koker – who was averaging more than 17 points a game. Marable finished with eight points and an assist.

“We tell Jayden all the time Jayden needs to be Jayden. She doesn’t need to be Chelby,” Carlsen said. “I think she has grown in every quarter she’s played since she got the opportunity to start. She’s more and more comfortable regardless of what the stat sheet says. I think she has a good understanding of what we need to do. I’m proud of the way she’s handled the basketball.”