Wednesday night, NIU’s women’s basketball team confessed the truth.

In their 103-57 pounding of Eastern Illinois at Chick Evans Field House, the Huskies revealed their real identities.

All 11 healthy players—although some were fighting the sick bug—got their chance to show what type of character this 21st-ranked squad has. Ten of those Huskies scored, including everyone’s favorite Irish lady, Jenny Sullivan; and seven were able to hit the jackpot of double figures.

“That’s the definition of a true team,” exclaimed NIU head coach Jane Albright-Dieterle of the sensational scoring night.

Even more prominent is Albright-Dieterle has NIU playing within the team concept, and even with all the individual highlights against EIU, it came down to what the collective unit accomplished.

In its big first half (51-27 lead), NIU was a blistering .595 from the field (22-of-37). The Huskies let down a tad in half No. 2 but still finished at 54 percent for the game (43-80)—the second-best shooting display this season.

Just as impressive was the 8-for-15 effort from beyond the three-point line. The successful tries equalled the career high set on Jan. 2 versus Utah.

Although the Lady Panthers controlled the boards with a 54-50 advantage, including 32-19 on the offensive glass, the Huskies turned in one their best defensive efforts of the year as EIU made just 28 percent of its shots (24-for-86)—12 of those misses courtesy of NIU blocks.

“This is really the first big score we’ve had all year as far as really being able to put somebody away early and then just staying with it,” Albright-Dieterle said. “All of the substitutes did a good job of coming in. … I was really pleased with us as a team.”

Now, NIU looks to garner another “team” win when it heads to Chicago for the second time this week. Saturday night at 7:30, the Huskies meet Illinois-Chicago at the Physical Education Building for the clubs’ second Mid-Continent Conference matchup of the year.

NIU’s (17-4, 11-0) defense held the Flames (11-9, 5-6) to just 29 percent shooting and forced 24 turnovers in the Huskies’ 79-53 win two weeks ago at the fieldhouse.