The Northern Illinois University women’s basketball team battled through a tough shooting day Friday afternoon but still mustered a stellar defensive effort to defeat the Idaho State Bengals 51-50 in overtime at the NIU Convocation Center.

“You have to give Idaho State a lot of credit on the defensive end, especially in the second half and overtime,” head coach Lisa Carlsen said. “We knew their length could be a factor and we didn’t take care of the ball the way we needed to but we found a way to win.”

Graduate forward Brooke Stonebraker (Versailles, Ohio/Versailles) led NIU in scoring for the third straight game, posting 14 points with a game-high 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. She also had a game-high three blocks. Lexi Carlsen (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) added 12 points, tying a season-high with four three-pointers.

“I knew I needed to use my size to my advantage going into the game,” Stonebraker said. “I was the biggest one out there so getting those rebounds and blocks for my team was important.”

NIU (5-5) led 15-14 after the first quarter and pulled away to start the second. Two Stonebraker free throws and an Alecia Doyle (Carterville, Ill./SEMO) tipin put the Huskies up by five, 19-14, with 8:49 to go until halftime. Maria Dias then made a jumper to get the Bengals within three, 19-16, at the 8:31 mark. That would be Idaho State’s last field goal for over seven minutes. The Huskies went on a 13-0 run, getting six points from Brooke Blumenfeld (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North), to go ahead 32-16 with 1:27 left in the quarter. NIU took a 34-20 lead into halftime after outscoring Idaho State 19-6 in the second, holding the Bengals to 2-for-15 from the field and 1-for-7 from the three-point arc.

Idaho State (5-6) took advantage of nine NIU turnovers in the third quarter to claw its way back into the game. The Bengals closed within six points with an 11-4 run, capped by two Dias baskets, to make the score 40-34 with 0:24 left in the period. Doyle made two free throws in the final second of the third to get NIU up by eight, 42-34. The Huskies would be stuck on 42 points for over eight minutes as Idaho State charged to take a 43-42 lead on a Halle Wright layup with 2:22 to play in the game. NIU’s only made field goal in the fourth quarter came on a Carlsen three at the 1:58 mark, which gave the Huskies a 45-43 lead. Idaho State quickly tied the game 45-45 on a Wright layup with 1:40 to go.

NIU had two chances to win the game in regulation. Carlsen tried a three with 0:11 left that missed with Laura Nickel (Marshall, Wis./Marshall) getting the rebound. After a timeout, Chelby Koker (Racine, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) had a layup blocked with two seconds left that sent the game to overtime tied at 45-45.

Idaho State scored first in the extra session as two Sophia Covello free throws made the score 47-45 with 3:22 to play. Carlsen then made her fourth three of the game on NIU’s next possession to give the Huskies a 48-47 lead with 3:00 left. Doyle extended the lead to 50-47 with a jumper at the 2:15 mark, followed by a Stonebraker free throw that put NIU up four with 1:39 left. The Bengals got within one on a Dias free throw and a Wright layup with 0:44 left, making the score 51-50. Idaho State had a chance to win it with nine seconds left. Dias raced up the floor with a rebound and had two shots from close range rim out as NIU came away with the one-point win.

The Huskies overcame shooting 4-for-22 from the field in the second half to still shoot 35 percent for the game. NIU outrebounded Idaho State 53-47 and held the Bengals to a season-low 25 percent from the field. The Huskies had 13 assists on 20 made baskets with a game-high seven from Koker. However, Idaho State forced 25 turnovers which led to 20 points.

“We knew Idaho State would come in and be good,” Carlsen said. “We expected the fight and we got one. It doesn’t feel great offensively but Idaho State deserves credit for forcing those turnovers and making us uncomfortable. We will enjoy a few days off and then get excited for the preparation for Viterbo and then MAC play.”

Wright led all scorers in the game with 16 points for Idaho State.

NIU is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 28 to host Viterbo at the NIU Convocation Center at 1 p.m. Tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling (815) 753-PACK (7225).