NIU Women's Basketball Returns to the Court for First Time in Two Weeks :: Huskies to play first game since the tragic events of February 14th

Feb. 26, 2008

DEKALB, Ill.-The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team returns to the court for the first time since the tragic events of February 14th when the Huskies play host to MAC West leader Western Michigan Wednesday night at the convocation Center.

"I feel like our ladies did a great job of coming together and understanding we are a family," NIU head coach Carol Owens said. "They put things in perspective. Obviously this is a tough time for all the students, faculty and staff.

"They want to get back to doing what they've always done. For some of them, that's a way of dealing with this, is to go and do something that they love which is basketball."

In remembrance for those lost on February 14th, the Huskies will be wearing a black ribbon with the Huskie logo on their jerseys for the remainder on the season.

The Huskies' (9-14, 5-5) last game was Feb. 13, 2008 when Northern Illinois defeated Kent State, 83-74, in overtime. Whitney Lowe (Bushnell, Ill./Prairie City) and Ebony Ellis (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Township) each recorded double-doubles. Lowe led the way for the Huskies with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while the freshman Ellis finished the game with 16 points and a career- and game-high 16 rebounds. Lowe went 6-16 from the field and 7-9 from the free throw line and Ellis was 7-13 from the field.

Lowe continues her strong play in the MAC. The senior forward is averaging 16 points a game in conference action and 10.6 for the season. Tiera DeLaHoussaye enters Wednesday's game as the reigning MAC West Player of the Week. She collected her sixth player of the week honor after scoring a career-high 27 points and dishing out 10 assists.

Western Michigan (12-15, 9-4) leads the all-time series, 24-13. The Broncos won the first meeting between the two teams this season, 75-51, in Kalamazoo Jan. 19, 2008. Lowe and Jessie Wilcox (Oshkosh, Wis, West) led the way fro NIU with 14 and 12 points respectively. The last Huskie victory over Western Michigan came Jan. 13, 2007 when NIU defeated the Broncos 79-73 in the Convocation Center.

Fans can follow all the action with Bill Baker on 1360 AM WLBK. For tickets, contact the NIU ticket office at 815-752-6800 or log on to www.niuhuskies.com.