CHARLESTON, Ill. - Evan Zars recorded back-to-back double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds) outings in a 79-67 setback to Northern Illinois to begin the Compass Challenge on Saturday (Dec. 5).
"We definitely had some good moments, but the difference was them hitting open threes in the second half and us not," said head coach JD Gravina. "We have to keep our mental urgency high and not deflate when things aren't going our way."
Western Illinois (0-2) started the contest on a 10-0 run that forced NIU (2-1) to call a timeout. Zars contributed to half the run as she finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for her tenth career double-double. She ended with four blocks to pass Gail Diask (1989-92) for seventh all-time with 55.
The Huskies who defeated host Eastern Illinois, 82-72, on Friday (Dec. 4), responded out of their timeout and tied it 14-14 at 5:41 in the first. Freshman Anna Deets would help regain the lead with a three-pointer from deep to give WIU a 27-23 lead at the end of the first.
Both sides answered each other throughout the second, with Elizabeth Lutz getting the steal and layin before time expired to push the Leathernecks up 41-40 into halftime. The bucket helped string together a 12-0 run to push head 47-40 at the 6:32 mark in the third.
However, the Huskies who hit 13 three-pointers in the game, responded with a 16-5 run that put them up 56-52 to end the third. Zars made it a one-possession game (56-54) just 12 seconds in the fourth quarter, but the in-state foe drilled four three-pointers and held Western to five points to push it out of reach.
After missing the season opener, Carla Flores knocked down a three in the second quarter to snap a three-minute scoring drought and retake the lead, 30-27. She ended 3-3 from behind the arc with 11 points, including sinking her first shot of the season. Danni Nichols added her second straight 12 point performance.
Western Illinois concludes the Compass Challenge against host Eastern Illinois on Sunday (Dec. 6) at 2 p.m., then heading to Indiana State on Monday (Dec. 7).
