DEKALB, Ill. — Lauren Prochaska scored six points in the final minute, including two free throws with
three seconds to play, to help Bowling Green slip past Northern Illinois, 67-64 Tuesday. The win broke a
two-game losing streak for the Falcons, now 18-4 overall and 6-3 in the Mid-American Conference.
“Our team found a way tonight, to gut out a close game. We’ve recently lost some close games and had some
disappointing results. So I’m really, really proud of our team tonight finding a way to the finish
line,” BG head coach Curt Miller said. “That is a big win for us right now because we were lacking some
confidence and our tail was between our legs a little bit.”
NIU was up six, 58-52, with 5:57 remaining in the game after a jumper from Bianca Brown.
The Falcons then scored seven straight points and went up 59-58 on a 3-pointer from Chrissy Steffen with
3:19 left.
Marke Freeman then scored the next six points for the Huskies and the Falcons could counter only with a
layup from Jen Uhl. Freeman’s layup with 47 seconds left, gave NIU a 64-61 lead.
Prochaska hit two free throws with 30 seconds left to pull the Falcons to within one. She followed with a
basket off an offensive rebound with 16 seconds left to put the Falcons up 65-64.
Freeman missed a jumper with 10 seconds remaining and Courtney Shelton rebounded for the Huskies.
Prochaska then stole the ball and was fouled, making both free throws with three seconds left.
NIU missed a 3-pointer just before the final buzzer.
“It takes guts and it takes courage. It shows you a player who has scored over 2,000 points in her career
and is on track to be BG’s all-time leading scorer,” Miller said about Prochaska’s efforts in the final
minute. “She is in a major slump right now. She is really hurting. Both knees are banged up and she has
a major foot issue.
“But when we asked her to step up and want the ball at the end and she still wanted it,” Miller said. “A
lot of players in the slump that she’s in, would not make that play, but she stepped up.”
Prochaska finished with 10 points and now needs 17 points to pass Jackie Motycka’s school record of 2,122
points.
BG’s senior post tandem of Uhl and Maggie Hennegan played well again, combining for 34 points and 13
rebounds. Uhl had 18 points, including going 4-of-6 on 3-pointers, and added seven rebounds while
Hennegan contributed 16 points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.
“Our post game was fantastic tonight,” Miller said.
Steffen chipped in with 12 points and four assists. Prochaska was only 2-of-9 from the field, 0-of-3 on
threes, and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. Prochaska also had four assists, three steals and six
rebounds while playing a team-high 39 minutes.
Freeman led all scores with 26 points, hitting on 12-of-17 shots from the field, with seven rebounds. She
played all 40 minutes. Freeman scored NIU’s first 14 points in the game.
“We overcame a great game by Freeman, who single- handedly almost beat us,” Miller said. “We did a great
job on everybody else, but Marke kept making play after play.
“We have nobody on our roster who can match her quickness. We had to try to put length on her.” Miller
added.
NOTES: NIU is now 9-13 overall and 3-6 in the MAC … The start of the game was moved up two hours
because of the weather conditions in DeKalb … BG’s starters all played 30 minutes or more …Uhl’s
four 3-pointers were a career-best … NIU held a 37-26 rebounding edge … After not having an
offensive rebound in the first half, the Falcons had 10 offensive boards in the second half … The
Falcons host Ball State Saturday at 2 p.m. in the opener of a women’s-men’s doubleheader in Anderson
Arena. BG’s men host Western Michigan starting at 5 p.m.