The NIU women’s basketball team’s recent string of three straight 20-win seasons can be attributed to great talent and great performances by that talent.

Two of the players who made the greatest impact were Tammy Hinchee and Carol Owens both of whom culminated their stellar careers by leading NIU to a 26-5 record and a second-round berth in the NCAA tournament in 1990.

These days Hinchee and Owens are showcasing their talents overseas rather than in Chick Evans Field House.

Hinchee has been playing professional basketball in Spain for the past year and has returned to DeKalb this summer to finish getting her degree in sports business.

While in Spain, Hinchee had to adjust to a new culture and a new way of life.

“It was a lot different out in Spain,” Hinchee said. “It’s a different culture. The most popular ‘sport’ in Spain is bull-fighting.

“I was a little homesick for the first two months, but I kept in touch with Lisa (Foss), Carol (Owens), and (NIU women’s coach) Jane Albright. They helped me out when I was homesick.”

Hinchee also had to adjust to a difference in the quality of play and the coaching in Spain.

“I played all right, but our team didn’t do too well,” Hinchee said. “I knew more about the game than our coach did.”

For Owens, the adjustment to a new lifestyle and culture may have been a little more drastic.

Owens played professional basketball in Japan this past season and had to adjust to a different style of basketball as well, one that stressed the outside, uptempo game.

“They’re not used to post-up players in Japan so I played outside a lot,” Owens said. “They’re trying to change the game, but I think that the U.S. is far more advanced than Japan.

“I was very homesick,” Owens said. “There was a big difference in the food out there such as raw fish, lots of rice and noodles.

“I kept in touch with Jane (Albright) and some of the other players and that really helped.

“It was fun to play in a different country, but it was hard at the same time. The language barrier was a problem and my interpreter wasn’t there with me all the time. But I still had a lot of fun and I met a lot of great players,” Owens added.

Owens is also spending her summer in DeKalb to work-out in preparation for her upcoming season overseas, this time in Spain.

The Spanish League is in need of centers, the position that Owens is most comfortable in.

“Playing inside is what I’m best at and I’d rather be at center next year,” Owens said.