NATCHITOCHES – Starting the first five minutes of the game with an 11-point lead, the Huskies never trailed earning a 71-36 victory over the Northwestern State Demons on Saturday afternoon inside the Prather Coliseum.
From the start HBU (7-5, 3-2 SLC) handled the ball well across the floor with a strong opening from Marilyn Nzoiwu leading the first with six points and four rebounds. The Huskies were up by 10 to end the first already forcing eight turnovers from the Demons.
Enya Maguire entered the game to start the second period putting the Huskies up by 11 with a three by a Nzoiwu assist. With HBU up by 14, the Demons (0-13, 0-8 SLC) remained scoreless until the five-minute mark, fighting their way back in to give HBU only a ten-point lead. But with a couple of shots from the paint by Kennedy Wilson and Timia Jefferson, the teams went to the locker room at the half with Huskies up 36-22.
With a rough start by both teams in the third, four-out-of-seven shots were made by the Huskies in the first seven minutes. With three minutes left, newcomer Annabel Deerbon made her debut sinking a three-pointer just 10 seconds after her entrance. The Huskies pushed their lead to 18 to end the third after struggling with nine turnovers and hitting only 5-of-15 shots in the field.
With another opening three from Enya Maguire, the Huskies worked more points from the paint. Deerbon sunk a three for a 31-point lead and HBU continued to push it keeping the Demons from scoring for a six-minute dry period. With a couple of free throws from E. Maguire, and a final free throw from Linda Bruekner, the Huskies closed out the game 71-36.
Wilson led the Huskies with 11 points, five rebounds, and three steals. N'Denasija Collins and Marilyn Nzoiwu shared a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds each with an added six blocks from Nzoiwu. Timia Jefferson and Julija Vujak
ovic also both added 10 points
with Enya Maguire just behind with nine points, and eight points from debut freshman Annabel Deerbon. HBU shot 42.2 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the line. The Huskies outrebound the opponent 51 to 42.
The Demons were led by Julia Sion with nine points and six rebounds. Anessa Dussette was closely behind with seven points and seven rebounds while Tristen Washington added six points. NSU shot 22.2 percent from the field and made just 7-out-of-14 free throws. The team had 18 turnovers with 11 being in the first half.
The Huskies will see action again as they host Abilene Christian in Sharp Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. for their first meet up.
