FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — Alana Nelson recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds Sunday to lead Fort Wayne to a 67-44 women’s college basketball victory over Northern Illinois at Gates Sports Center. The Mastodons (8-4) never trailed, building a 20-7 lead after the first quarter and maintaining a double-digit advantage the rest of the way. Lili Krasovec added 16 points for Fort Wayne. Emilie Sorensen scored 17 points for the Huskies (2-8), who struggled offensively after halftime. Northern Illinois managed just 20 points in the second half. Fort Wayne shot efficiently from the floor while its defense stifled the Huskies, holding them to six points in the final quarter to secure the win.

Preview: Northern Illinois Huskies at Fort Wayne Mastodons FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — A struggling Northern Illinois women’s basketball team seeks to halt a three-game skid when it visits a surging Fort Wayne squad on Sunday at Gates Sports Center. The Huskies (2-7) enter following a 52-105 road loss at Iowa State on Dec. 7. Guard Maria Serracanta led NIU with 16 points in that defeat and has been a focal point, averaging 9.2 points over her last five contests. Forward Teresa Mbemba also scored 16 against the Cyclones. Conversely, the Mastodons (7-4) have won three straight, including a 70-60 home victory over Milwaukee on Dec. 10. Fort Wayne’s balanced attack features guard Nika Lokica, who scored 16 points in the win over Milwaukee, and forward Alana Nelson, who added a team-high 20 points. The matchup presents a stark contrast in momentum. Northern Illinois’s two wins came against Chicago State and SIU Edwardsville in late November, but the Huskies have since lost four of five. Fort Wayne, meanwhile, has found consistency at home, boasting a 5-1 record at Gates Sports Center this season. A key battle will be on the interior, where the Mastodons’ Nelson will challenge NIU’s Mbemba. Containing Lokica’s perimeter scoring will also be critical for a Huskies defense that allowed 105 points in its last outing. This nonconference game serves as a final tune-up before both teams dive into their respective league schedules later in December. For Northern Illinois, it’s a chance to build confidence. For Fort Wayne, it’s an opportunity to solidify its winning form before hosting Aquinas on Dec. 19. Tipoff is set for Sunday afternoon.