Women’s basketball beat the Western Michigan University Broncos 77-64 Monday in the Convocation Center. This game served as a makeup  from the Jan. 31 weather cancellation

The Huskies took sole position of second place in the Mid-American West division and are now a half game up on the University of Toledo.

Sophomore guard Errin Hodges picked up her first career double-double scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds.

The Huskies started the game scorching hot from the field shooting 50 percent and knocking down 60 percent of their 3-pointers.

Hodges led the Huskies in scoring in the first quarter with seven points while dishing out two assists.

The Huskies defense helped increased their lead in the second quarter allowing the Broncos to score only nine points. NIU’s offense continued to give the Broncos fits as they shot 52.6 percent from the field in the second.

Hodges and Junior guard Myia Starks scored a combined 14 points in the second quarter to increase their lead to 19 heading into halftime.

Related: Cram the Convo results in split for NIU Basketball

Head coach Lisa Carlsen said the duo played well against Western Michigan.

“I think both of the them did a really nice job of picking their times and being aggressive [while] making it look easy,” Carlsen said.

The Huskies offense continued to have their way against the Broncos knocking down 50 percent of their shots from the field for the third straight quarter. NIU’s defense had similar success as they held the Broncos to 35 percent shooting.

Sophomore guard Gabby Nikitinaite scored seven points in the the third for the Huskies and help them hold a 58-43 lead going into the final quarter.

The Broncos started to show life in the fourth quarter after a 3-pointer by junior guard Kamrin Reed brought Western Michigan’s deficit to 11. That would be the closest the Broncos would get as NIU was able to hold on to win 77-64.

Nikitinaite again led NIU in scoring in the fourth quarter with seven points and went perfect from the free throw line.

Nikitinatie, who usually starts for the Huskies, had a different role against Western Michigan coming off the bench to score 17 points.

The Huskies continue MAC play noon Saturday against Central Michigan University in the McGuirk Arena. It will be a rematch of two of the top teams in the MAC West. NIU lost the previous matchup 89-66 on Jan 12.