NIU women’s basketball’s (3-13, 1-4 MAC) offensive struggles continue after dropping its midweek matchup to the University of Toledo (8-7, 3-2 MAC) by a score of 70-49.
The Huskies forfeited 21 turnovers throughout the game compared to 10 by Toledo. The Rockets also outscored the Huskies in points off turnovers (14-4) in the first half and finished the game at a 26-6 margin.
“I would say we just need to pay attention to the other team,” junior forward Neveah Wingate said. “We just need to take better care of the ball and treat every offensive possession with more care. And just knowing where defenders are in order to limit turnovers and also just slow the game down.”
NIU was able to outrebound the Rockets in the game, grabbing 29 rebounds to Toledo’s 25. Also commanding the offensive glass, the Huskies hauled in 8 offensive rebounds to Toledo’s five, leading to 5 second-chance points.
Both Toledo and NIU entered the game as the MAC’s bottom two teams in three-point percentage, with both programs shooting under 27% from three this season.
Both teams shot 33.3% from beyond the arch on Wednesday, with Toledo making a higher volume of shots at 7/21 compared to the Huskies’ 4/12.
Going into halftime, NIU trailed Toledo by a score of 35-22, with Wingate finishing the first 20 minutes with 10 of the Huskies’ 22 points.
Wingate scored the Huskies first 8 points of Wednesday night’s ballgame, and finished the first half with 10 points, all of which came in the first quarter.
The St. John’s transfer led the Huskies in scoring and rebounding, with her final statline including 15 points, 8 rebounds and 1 steal.
“It feels good,” Wingate said. “Just going out there on the court and doing what my team needs me to do in order for us to win. That’s the main thing, that’s the main goal, just going out there and executing.”
Wingate started the game going 2/2 from three and finished the game with a season high three shots from deep, going 3/4 from beyond the arch. Prior to Wednesday’s game, Wingate was shooting 27% from the field and had made just seven threes.
“I would say I’m very confident in my three point shot,” Wingate said. “So if I feel like people are sagging off of me or if they’re giving me too much space, I’m capable of making my three point shots, so I’m just going to let it fly. And if it goes in, it goes in, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
Graduate student guard Nadechka Laccen was the second leading scorer for the Huskies, totaling 9 points on 3/5 shooting with 4 rebounds.
Senior guard Maria Serracanta totaled just 2 points in Wednesday’s action but was the team’s second-leading rebounder behind Wingate with seven.
Toledo graduate guard Patricia Anumgba led all scorers for Wednesday’s contest with 24 points on 10/14 shooting from the field and 4/6 from three- point range.
Anumgba also totaled 4 rebounds and tied for a game high 5 steals with teammate sophomore guard Faith Fedd-Robinson.
UP NEXT
The Huskies next matchup will be at noon Saturday in Athens, Ohio, when they take on the Ohio University Bobcats. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available via StatBroadcast.
