A few years ago, the Muppets took Manhattan in a movie, but the Huskies couldn`t take Manhattan on the basketball court Saturday.
Coming off its biggest win of the season, a 73-55 victory over then-No. 6 Stephen F. Austin last Monday in De Kalb, Northern Illinois` women dropped a 69-62 decision to Manhattan College on Saturday in Riverdale, N.Y.
The game, which featured six ties and 23 lead changes, was decided when Manhattan went on a 12-0 run with 7 minutes 50 seconds left, wiping out a 53-50 deficit.
”The road is always tough for a young team,” said Huskies coach Jane Albright-Dieterle. ”We were very flat compared to the Stephen F. Austin game.”
Sophomore guard E.C. Hill led NIU with 19 points and junior guard Cindy Conner added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The Huskies (4-3) hit the road again Jan. 2 when they play at De Paul.
Two sports, Part I: If he earns a varsity letter in basketball, freshman guard Vaurice Patterson would become NIU`s first football-basketball letter-winner since quarterback-guard George Bork (1960-64). Patterson, who caught seven passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns this fall, joined coach Brian Hammel`s basketball squad Dec. 14.
Signed and sealed: Hammel`s coaching staff didn`t waste any time securing signed national letters of intent from five players, four from Illinois. Coming aboard next season will be 6-5, 180-pound guard Jamal Robinson of Proviso East, forward Scott Peterson (6-7, 190) of Pekin, forward Clayton Stivers (6-7, 195) of Findlay, forward Mike Hartke (6-7, 206) of Heyworth and guard Chad Weeks (6-3, 190) of Blaine, Minn. Hammel has one scholarship left. Two sports, Part II: Tailback T.C. Dantzler returns to the wrestling mat Saturday at the Midlands Championships in Evanston. The 158-pound junior, who played football at Northern for the first time this fall, is a two-time NCAA tournament qualifier.
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