It was a tournament debut by the NIU women’s basketball team that left their opponent, Western Michigan University, wondering what hit them.

Most likely it was the on-target shooting of seniors Denise Dove and Lisa Foss who made the Broncos’ heads spin in the first round of the NIU/Contel Fastbreak Fest. When combined, the two standouts contributed 51 of NIU’s 95 points in the Huskies’ 95-74 victory over WMU. Foss was unstoppable with 13 for 17 from the floor for 30 points while Dove netted an additional 21, which included a tournament-record five three-pointers.

“We knew coming into this game that Lisa Foss was an All-American and that Denise Dove would be putting it on the floor,” said WMU’s head coach Pat Charity-Elliott. “She (Dove) burnt us four times in a row. We just couldn’t stop her.”

Not only did WMU’s defense struggle, but the Bronco’s offense had it’s problems as well. NIU opened the game with a quick two points from Foss that set up a lead the Huskies would hold onto until the final buzzer.

“People want us to score points but I’m more for percentages inside,” said NIU head coach Jane Albright. “As far as rebounds go, we need a lot of work but our post game is something to be proud of.”

Albright was quick to point out the performance of sophomore forward Diana Wingis who contributed the only other double-figure for the team with 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

But with only 3:30 left to play, Wingis went down with an injury to her foot that would leave her sidelined for the remainder of the tournament. Dove also sustained an injury, this one to her hip, just as the game clock dwindled down to the final seconds. Dove was back for the championship Sunday.

“I think it was a nice opening game for us,” said Albright. “We played hard and played a lot of people. The players who went in did a really good job of handling the ball.”