There’s more on the minds of the NIU women’s basketball team than just the Wright State team that the Huskies are facing at 7 p.m. Thursday at Chick Evans Field House.

Thursday’s North Star Conference battle marks the first game the Huskies (9-4, 2-0) will play on the home hardwood following their January 3rd loss to Vanderbilt (79-65)—which snapped NIU’s home winning streak at 15 in a row.

“That was a very painful loss for all of us,” Albright said. “When you get a team like that in your environment, you like to take control, but we didn’t. I think everybody wants to start a new winning streak for the home crowd.”

Speaking of streaks, the Huskies will also look to extend the 17-game consecutive unbeaten string versus NSC opponents. Yet, Albright isn’t really concerned about the latter record. As a matter of fact, the coach feels that it could work against the Huskies.

“It’s nice to have, but it really doesn’t do anything for us,” Albright admitted. “It’s probably used as more of a motivational tool for opponents.”

One thing unique about this Wright State team is that the revenge motive won’t be on their sideline. Simply because the Raiders are newcomers to the NSC and the match-up marks the first meeting between the two schools.

“It is our first meeting and we’re not that familiar with their personnel,” Albright said. “But, I am familiar with Terry Hall and know that their program is only going to continue to improve.”

all became the Raider boss after a three-year layoff from compiling a 231-126 record at three different schools including Southeast Conference Kentucky. So far this season, Hall has led WSU to a 2-11 mark with a 1-1 ledger in the NSC.

WSU fell to DePaul by just a dozen points, while racking up their debut win in the conference with a 75-63 triumph at UIC. Albright will look to Lisa Foss to set the tempo for the Huskies. The senior All-America candidate needs 23 points to eclipse the 2,000-point plateau for her career at NIU.

Also, coming on as of late is forward Dianna Wingis. The sophomore has led the Huskies in rebounding for the last three straight games.