DeKALB | For the third time this season, the NIU women’s basketball team found itself involved in a game decided by six points or fewer. Unfortunately, for the second time this season, they lost one of those games.

This loss came at the hands of DePaul on the road Saturday, as the Blue Demons defeated the Huskies 71-68.

The score remained close until DePaul went on a 9-2 run to open up a 12-point lead midway through the second half.

Led by Stephanie Raymond, NIU (2-2) battled its way back and was able to tie the game with a pair of free throws by Raymond. The Huskies then took a two-point lead on a jumper by Jessie Wilcox with 1:23 remaining.

The Blue Demons (2-1) were able to respond as a three-pointer by Missy Mitidiero with one minute remaining gave DePaul the lead for good.

Raymond finished with a game-high 25 points, including 16 in the final 10 minutes of the game. She also went 10 of 10 from the foul line, had six assists and four steals while committing eight turnovers.

Junior Whitney Lowe hit the glass hard for NIU, grabbing a team-best 10 rebounds while scoring 12 points to earn a double-double.

In a tough shooting night for both teams, Wilcox was the only Huskie to shoot fifty percent, going 5 of 10 from the floor worth 15 points.

DePaul balanced their scoring with Mitidiero scoring 19 and Allie Quigley chipping in with 16.

Blue Demon forwards Erin Cattell and Caprice Smith each achieved double-doubles with Cattell going for 14 points and 14 rebounds and Smith scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 boards.