The NIU women’s basketball team extends its losing streak to four as they lose at home to the No. 1 team in the MAC, the Bowling Green Falcons, 66-50.

Problems without Davis

Without the Huskies’ senior forward A’Jah Davis in the lineup, who is sidelined day-to-day with a leg injury that she suffered late in the third quarter on Wednesday against Kent State, NIU had troubles throughout the game with scoring and rebounding. 

“She’s (Davis) such a huge part of what we do on both ends of the floor like rebounding the basketball and having a dominant low post presence,” head coach Lisa Carlsen said. “Unfortunately, having (an) injury like that at the end of the season you don’t have time to prepare for things.” 

Problems such as rebounding were a problem early in the first quarter as BGU out-rebounded NIU 14-5. 

Scoring was another problem for NIU early in the first quarter as they shot 21.4% from the field and were down 14 at the end of first quarter, 22-8. 

“We have to find a way to be better out of the gate; we put ourselves in a hole again,” Carlsen said. “I don’t fault our kids’ effort, I think we fought hard, but we have to match our effort with execution.” 

The Falcons went into the game with the number one record in Mid-American Conference and the best record in their school history at 17-2 overall. Their play on the court showed as they played efficiently in the first half.

BGSU shot 48.3% from the field and 40% from the three-point line. Falcons senior guard Elissa Brett scored eight points in nine minutes. BGSU also recorded 23 rebounds in comparison to the Huskies’ 16 in the first half.

The Huskies were down at the half 35-22. 

Falcons keep flying

Brett was the story of the second half. Her scoring from the three-point line was hard for NIU to defend. She shot 50% from the three-point line. Brett finished the game with a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. 

The Huskies had a high-scoring third quarter with 17 points, but BGSU matched them with 17 as well. NIU couldn’t cut its deficit to single digits and lost 66-50. 

No Huskies were able to reach double digit scoring in the loss. Sophomore forward Laura Nickel and redshirt sophomore guard Sidney McCrea tied for NIU’s scoring lead with nine points from each player

NIU’s overall record is 10-9 with a record of 2-6 in the MAC. BGSU sits in first place in the MAC with a record of 7-1 and 18-2 overall. 

The Huskies head on the road as they play at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday against the Ball State University Cardinals in Muncie, Indiana. Live statistics for the game will be available on Sidearm Sports.