DeKALB, Ill. – Indiana State nearly overcame a 15-point deficit Monday night on the road, but the Sycamores' comeback effort fell just short in a 76-71 defeat to Northern Illinois inside the Convocation Center.
Saroiya Ajomale led the Trees with 17 points, while
Natalia Williams added 16 points off the bench for her highest-scoring game at the Division I level.
Kristen McMillan nearly registered a double-double off the bench with 13 points and eight boards, while
Amerie Flowers led all players with nine rebounds.
After a back-and-forth opening quarter, Northern Illinois broke through with a 16-2 run across the middle stages of the second quarter to pull ahead by double-digits. Indiana State slowly whittled down the deficit, with Williams scoring 10 across the middle two quarters to pull the Trees within seven. Ajomale nearly willed Indiana State to a win in the second half, scoring 12 in the fourth quarter including a three from the wing to give the Trees a lead at one point, but a late 7-0 run saw the home side sneak past the Sycamores.
First Half
Ajomale got the scoring started for the Sycamores with a three from the wing, but NIU jumped out to an early 14-5 lead by the midway point of the first quarter. McMillan followed with a 6-0 run of her own, while a pair of baskets from Williams cut the deficit down to a pair inside the final minute.
Crystal Schultz knocked down a late midrange basket on the Sycamores' final possession of the frame, bringing Indiana State within a point at 18-17 after one quarter.
Baskets from
Aaliyah Youngblood and Flowers kept the Trees within a point early in the second, but a 16-2 NIU run saw the Sycamores trailing 38-23. Indiana State worked its way back into the game in the final minutes of the half, as threes from Williams and
Jayci Allen sparked an 8-0 run for the Sycamores. Williams tacked on a putback layup inside the final minute, as Indiana State cut its double-digit deficit down to 40-33 at the half.
Second Half
Early baskets from
Eanae Dagons and Williams, the former's being an and-one off a steal, made it a one-possession game three minutes into the third quarter, but the Trees went without a point for more than three minutes after that. Williams and Ajomale ended the Sycamore drought with baskets to keep the Trees within three late in the frame, and Youngblood connected on a three-ball inside the final minute. NIU had answers for the Sycamores' scoring runs, though, and led 54-47 entering the fourth.
Indiana State came out firing in the fourth, with McMillan knocking down a pair of free throws and a layup and Youngblood adding a transition basket to pull the Trees within a point at 54-53. Williams and Ajomale continued their strong nights with baskets to keep it a one-point game, but NIU used another run to lead by five midway through the period. Ajomale caught fire down the stretch for the Sycamores with three baskets in a 90-second span, while
Ashley Singhateh converted on a basket in the paint to bring the Blue and White within a point at 67-66. Ajomale gave the Sycamores their first lead of the game with a trey from the wing inside the last two minutes, while McMillan kept the Blue and White in front with a late layup, but it wasn't enough for the Sycamores on opening night. The Huskies converted a three-point play inside the final 30 seconds and iced the game from the free throw line to close out a 76-71 win.
News and Notes:
- Indiana State outscored Northern Illinois 38-36 in the second half, with the Sycamores' 24-point fourth quarter being the highest scoring quarter by either team in the game.
- Indiana State finished plus-six in rebound margin (43-37), with more than half of the Sycamores' 43 rebounds coming on the offensive glass. The Sycamores' 22 offensive rebounds were their most in a game since Jan. 16, 2025 against Southern Illinois.
- Indiana State took advantage of the offensive rebounds, finishing with a 22-6 advantage in second chance points.
- Indiana State's bench accounted for nearly half of its scoring in Monday's season opener, with the Sycamores tallying 35 bench points in Monday's game. Natalia Williams (16) and Kristen McMillan (13) both scored in double-figures off the bench for the Trees, who were third nationally in bench scoring last season.
- Indiana State forced 22 Northern Illinois turnovers, converting those into 22 points on the other end. The turnovers and rebound advantage kept the Sycamores in the game, as NIU shot 50.9 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc.
- Natalia Williams' 16 points off the bench were her most in a game at the collegiate level. 10 of Williams' 16 points came in the second and third quarters.
- Kristen McMillan's eight rebounds were her most in a game at the Division I level, while her 13 points were her most in a game since Dec. 29, 2025 when she was at UNC Asheville.
- Saroiya Ajomale scored 14 of her team-leading 17 points in the second half of Monday's game, including 12 in the fourth quarter.
- Indiana State fell to 3-6 all-time against Northern Illinois, including an 0-3 mark in DeKalb. The Sycamores fell in their season opener for the third straight game.
- Monday's season-opening starting lineup consisted of Aaliyah Youngblood, Jayci Allen, Eanae Dagons, Saroiya Ajomale and Amerie Flowers.
Up Next
Indiana State's three-game road trip continues Friday morning in the Garden State, as the Sycamores visit Seton Hall for an 11:30 a.m. tip.
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