DEKALB, Ill. (Interstat) — In a Mid-American Conference women’s basketball game defined by grinding defense and offensive struggles, the Northern Illinois Huskies used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from the Western Michigan Broncos for a 64-56 victory on Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.

The game, witnessed by an announced crowd of 570, saw both teams combine for 33 turnovers and shoot under 47% from the field, but the Huskies’ ability to capitalize on second chances and a standout performance from guard Emilie Sorensen proved the difference. The win improved Northern Illinois to 4-14 overall, while Western Michigan fell to 5-12.

The contest was a back-and-forth affair through the first half. Western Michigan’s Alli Harness opened the scoring with a 3-pointer just 18 seconds in, setting a pace that quickly dissolved into a defensive slog. The Broncos led 9-2 early, but Northern Illinois closed the first quarter on a 9-0 run, capped by a Sa’Mahn Johnson jumper off a turnover at the buzzer, to take an 11-9 lead.

The second quarter featured six lead changes. Western Michigan’s D’Myjah Bolds, a 6-foot-3 forward from O’Fallon, Illinois, provided an interior presence, scoring 10 of her team-high 17 points before halftime. Northern Illinois countered with Sorensen, the Waukee, Iowa, native who consistently found seams in the Bronco defense. Her layup with 1:21 left in the half gave the Huskies a 26-24 edge, which they carried into the break.

The most important stretch of the game came immediately after halftime. Northern Illinois emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity, forcing four Western Michigan turnovers in the first four minutes of the third quarter. The Huskies opened the period on a 15-4 run, transforming a two-point lead into a 41-30 advantage. Sorensen was the catalyst, hitting a 3-pointer and converting a tough layup during the spurt. The Broncos, plagued by a stagnant offense that produced only three assists all night, could not mount a sustained counter. Northern Illinois outscored Western Michigan 20-14 in the quarter to take a commanding 46-40 lead into the final frame.

Western Michigan made several pushes in the fourth quarter, closing to within four points on multiple occasions. A layup by Bolds with 4:49 remaining cut the deficit to 52-48, but the Huskies answered each time. Guard Nadechka Laccen of San Juan, Puerto Rico, delivered critical plays down the stretch, including a clutch 3-pointer with 3:38 left that pushed the lead back to seven at 56-49. Laccen finished with 14 points.

The Broncos’ final chance came in the closing minute. Trailing 60-56, Western Michigan had a possession to cut the lead to one or tie it, but a turnover by Alli Carlson with 12 seconds left was stolen by Sorensen, effectively sealing the outcome. Northern Illinois then closed the game at the free-throw line.

Sorensen led all scorers with 22 points in 36 minutes, spearheading a Huskies attack that, while not efficient, did enough to secure the win. Northern Illinois shot 46.8% from the field but were hampered by 14-of-25 shooting from the foul line. Their advantage came on the glass, where they secured nine offensive rebounds leading to 11 second-chance points, compared to just two offensive boards for Western Michigan.

Bolds’s 17 points and two blocks led the Broncos, who shot 44.4% overall but were undone by 17 turnovers and a stark disparity in ball movement. Northern Illinois recorded nine assists to Western Michigan’s three. Carlson added 11 points for the Broncos, while Nevaeh Wingate of Northern Illinois filled the stat sheet with eight points, seven assists and four steals.

The game was a departure from the pregame statistical projection, which favored Western Michigan with a 54.4% probability to win. Instead, Northern Illinois found a way to win a defensive battle on its home floor, snapping a three-game losing streak in conference play.

Both teams return to action on Saturday. Northern Illinois travels to face Eastern Michigan, while Western Michigan hosts Central Michigan.