NIU coach Carol Hammerle wanted her team to score at least 70 points a game this season, and Wednesday night it was accomplished with a 71-63 victory over Southeast Missouri State.

The win raised the team’s record to 4-2, and its winning streak to three games. Southeast Missouri State coach Ed Arnzen gave credit to NIU and believed that the two teams battled well despite fatigue.

“I think both ball clubs were tired,” said Arnzen. “Both teams seemed to play like it tonight. Both clubs turned it over way too many times, but I give credit to Northern Illinois because anytime they had to have a basket they got the big one.”

Having four players in double figures didn’t hurt the Huskies and they used a balanced attack to advance to victory.

Kristan Knake led the team with 15 points, followed by Jamie Wilson’s 14 points and eight rebounds. Monique Davis added 13 points and five assists, and rounding out the double-figure scorers was Jennifer Youngblood who had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Youngblood fouled out of the game with 1:53 to go in the second half.

As a team, the Huskies shot 26-of-55 for 47 percent. They also hit the outside shot with five three-pointers. Lindsay Secrest and Monique Davis both added two three-pointers.

“It was nice to look at the sheet and see that even though Kim Boeding and Secrest struggled we can still win,” said Hammerle. “So when you look at how we’re doing right now without those two players, which have shown in the past that they can score, I think that’s encouraging.”

Jamie Wilson’s 14 points was a career high for the freshman, but what impressed Knake most about the freshman’s game was her offensive rebounds.

“Jamie played great,” said Knake. “You can tell by her stats, and the one that stands out the most is her six offensive boards. The coaching staff has really emphasized this week at getting offensive boards and going hard to the glass. I think she did a great job of that tonight.”

NIU improved upon its 30 turnovers from the last game with only 21 tonight.

The Huskies began the game on a 25-9 run, but Southeast Missouri State cut the lead down to six at halftime, 35-29.

At the beginning of the second half, the Huskies went on another big run of 17-4 to put their lead at 19 points with 12:23 to play. The lead eventually dropped down to five points with a minute left, but NIU held on to win.

“We never panicked but it was more bitterness we felt that we let them back in the game,” said Knake. “We were up 25-9 and let them back in it, that was our letdown, and we had something similar to that in the second half. We never panicked but we were disappointed.”