Coming into Monday’s game against Western Michigan, NIU coach Carol Hammerle knew the key to the game would be NIU’s defense.

It came through as NIU won 75-65.

The Huskies (12-14 overall and 8-5 Mid-American Conference) held WMU to 34 percent shooting. The trio of Karen Deurloo, Emily Samuelson and Sarah Hurrle each scored in double figures and contributed 59 of the Broncos 65 points. However, the Huskie defense held each of them to under 50 percent shooting. The rest of team shot only 2 of 14.

“The three players that can score are those three,” Hammerle said. “We really tried to contain them and as you can see they were the ones who scored. The rest of the team didn’t.”

Once again, the toughest job defensively was given to Jennifer Youngblood, who was given the task of containing Deurloo. Even though Deurloo had 20 points, Youngblood made her work for every point she tallied.

Along with her defensive effort, Youngblood scored a career-high 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, which was her tenth double-double of the season leading the MAC. Monique Davis added 10 points and played all 40 minutes at the point.

The Huskies were without Kristan Knake for the second-straight game, and Kim Boeding and Mickey Johnson each got into foul trouble and only played 20 minutes apiece. Also contributing was Lindsay Secrest who shot 5-of-5 from the floor and 3-of-3 from behind the three-point stripe.

“I was trying to be smart,” Secrest said. “I wasn’t really worried about scoring. If my shot was there, I just spotted up and took it.”

NIU led 41-27 at the half because of an 11-0 run midway through the first half. This run put the lead into double digits, which stayed for the remainder of the game. At the half-way point in the second half, the Huskies went on another big run of 10-0, giving them a 20-point lead.

With the win, the Huskies clinched at least a first round home game in the MAC tournament and can clinch a first round bye by winning their last three games.

“I feel very fortunate that we were able to beat Western especially without Kristan,” Hammerle said.