DeKALB— After an impressive second-half performance, the women’s basketball team took victory over the Western Michigan University Broncos 61-47 at Kalamazoo, Michigan.

NIU had three players in double digits as junior forward A’Jah Davis led all scorers with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Janae Poisson scored 12 points and senior guard Paulina Castro had 15 points in a perfect 5-5 from the three. 

The Huskies struggled offensively in the first nine minutes of the first quarter. NIU turned the ball over and missed shots, unsuccessfully trying to play through Davis as the Broncos triple-teamed her. 

The Broncos went on a 7-0 run from 5:49-1:30, gaining a 10-4 lead on the Huskies. The Huskies would finally score to catch up to the Broncos after a layup from Davis and a three-pointer from Castro. 

NIU poorly defended the three-point line in the second quarter, allowing shooters to get open. Players were watching the ball and not watching their man. 

Senior forward Reilly Jacobson and junior guard Sydney Shafer would lead the scoring for the Broncos as they each had six points. 

Down at halftime 18-26, the Huskies shot 25% from the field. 

Huskies’ Davis is 3-11 from the field with six points. Broncos’ Jacobson leads all scorers with 11 points shooting 60% from the three. 

Senior guard Errin Hodges injured her ankle at 5:47 in the third quarter after stepping on the back of a WMU player’s foot. She was helped off the court and would not return to the game.

The Huskies picked up their shooting in the third quarter, finally getting into a rhythm. In the third quarter, Huskies would take the lead 30-29 with 3:58 left.

Huskies would go on a 9-0 run from 3:16-1:00 as Janae Poisson scored six points and would have 10 points in the third quarter.

Poisson wasn’t the only scorer in the quarter as Castro went 2-2 from three. She would have 12 points through three quarters and 4-4 from the three.

NIU would be up nine points going into the fourth quarter 44-35.

Huskies continue to go on another run as they go on an 8-0 run from 7:11- 5:11 in the fourth quarter. Sophomore guard Jayden Marable made her presence known as she scored 4 points in the paint. 

NIU’s defense carried over in the fourth quarter as WMU continued its cold streak. NIU would go on to win the game with a tremendous second-half performance 61-47.

“This is a group who refuses to quit,” Coach Carlsen said. “There are so many things we had to rally against this season and this was one of them.”

NIU finished the game with eight steals and caused WMU to finish with 11 turnovers.

The Huskies head back home to the Convocation Center as they play against Bowling Green at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Tune into ESPN 3 to watch the game.