The Huskies knew it would be an uphill battle to defeat Kent State on its home court. Coming into the M.A.C. Center having won two games in a row, the Huskies were unable to make it three, losing 56-54 in an overtime bout.

The Golden Flashes (15-4 overall, 6-1 MAC) improve to 9-0 on their home court this season, and continue to a 15 home-game win streak.

“We knew they were one of the top teams in the MAC, and they had been winning games at home,” said junior Courtney Shelton.

NIU (8-12, 2-5) battled in the first half, but also had 17 turnovers which turned into 13 Kent State points. Even with the poor ball control, the Huskies managed just a four-point deficit at halftime. Guard Brittney Callahan dropped a three-pointer at the buzzer to put the score at 23-19.

Coming into the second half, the Huskies took the lead 25-23 after three quick buckets. It would be nearly four minutes before the Golden Flashes scored their first points, off the hands of senior Taisja Jones.

The forward would go on to score a career-high 36 of the team’s 56 points, including the game-winning layup.

“She was so stinking tired at the end she was almost begging to come out,” said associate head coach Lori Bodnar in a radio interview after the game. “We thought, no way.”

The Huskies would go into overtime for the first time this season and had their opportunities to make the game-tying or winning shot with eight seconds left in the period.

After getting the ball back following a Kent State turnover, guard Marke Freeman attempted the last shot, but missed from behind the arc at the buzzer.

“It really felt like once overtime started Kent State was a little timid,” Shelton said. “They were throwing the ball around the perimeter and no one really wanted it. For us we need to look at that and have the mentality that we need to go right at them.”

The Huskies offensively were led by Freeman with 13 points, while Kim Davis chipped in 11.

“I wish we could have gotten [Ellis] more touches in the post,” NIU head coach Kathi Bennett said. “Their size at the guard position bothered us and affected our passing…we got a little stagnant; that hurt us.”