Tuesday night’s NIU women’s basketball game lasted the regulation 40 minutes, but the last 41 seconds decided who would wear the crown—and it wasn’t the Huskies.

Head coach Jane Albright and her troops traveled to Evanston, Ill., only to fall 83-78 to the Northwestern Wildcats. The loss gives NIU a 3-2 record—both losses being on the road. The first away loss was handed to the Huskies by Old Dominion.

With 41 seconds showing on the clock, Northwestern’s Michele Savage tied the game at 78 with a layup. However, Savage was fouled on the way up by NIU’s Gena Stubbs, which put Savage on the line to convert the three-point play and give the Wildcats the lead.

NIU took the ball down court only to turn the ball over. Kelly Cole bumped the score to 81-78. The Huskies brought the roundball down court and attempted a 3-point shot but missed. Wildcat Nancy Kennelly was fouled with 10 seconds, sending her to the charity line. Kennelly converted both shots to give the Wildcats the victory.

Albright told her players going into the game that the contest would be a defensive one. Unfortunately for NIU, the Wildcats got the better of the Huskies.

“This was the worst defense we’ve played this year,” Albright said. “We put them on the line, and they did a good job of hitting them (free throws). We’ve got to be a team that can play on the road. What we needed was consistency going from the fieldhouse (Chick Evans) to (Northwestern).”

Despite the loss, Carol Owens led the Huskies in production points with 23, and was chairman of the boards with 12 rebounds. Kris Weis played another solid game for NIU finishing with 21 points and 7 boards. Two other Huskies finishing in double figures were Denise Dove and Tammy Hinchee, each with 14 points.

Dove sank four of five from 3-point range in the first half, but had one too many hands in her face during the second half. The 5-foot-7 guard went 0-4 from the twilight zone.

On more of a positive note for the Huskies, early-season standout Owens earned North Star Conference Player of the Week status for her performance in the NIU/Contel Fastbreak Fest.

The 6-foot-3 junior racked up 54 points, 23 rebounds, 10 steals and made 14-of-20 from the free-throw line in the two-game tourney. NIU defeated North Carolina State, 78-72, finshing with a first-place trophy.

Owens was also named the Fest’s MVP, while teammates Dove and Hinchee were named to the All-Tournament team. Dove, who played all 80 minutes on the weekend, compiled 33 points and 17 assists. Hinchee put together 29 points and swiped 18 rebounds off the glass.

The Huskies will have two days to practice before departing to the bright lights of Las Vegas. NIU will be participating in the UNLV/7-UP Desert Classic. Besides the Huskies, Sam Houston State, Nevada-Las Vegas and Kent State will be competing.

The Huskies will return home Dec. 17 to face Minnesota at Chick Evans Field House.