There is nothing wrong with aggressive defense as long as a team is in defensive position.

NIU women’s basketball coach Jane Albright worked on her squad’s defensive performance at Monday’s practice, hoping to keep the fouls low in tonight’s 7:30 game against Northwestern at Chick Evans Field House.

“We ran today when we fouled,” Albright said after Monday’s workout. “When we give a team a shot we’re not finishing with a defensive position and that is why we foul so much.”

In its 88-80 loss to the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, NIU (8-12) gave the Hurricanes 33 chances at the stripe. Albright knows that number has to be cut down in order to win a game.

The Wildcats will be hungry for a chance at the free-throw line. Northwestern could use its .681 percentage from behind the paint to chip away at NIU. If the Huskies want to stay away from anyone, it should be Kelly Cole. Cole holds a .780 clip from the free-throw line.

“They are a team in a rebuilding stage,” Albright said. “But they are an excellent ball club. They are only a half-court team, and that is why they only score in the 80’s, but they are very disciplined.”

The Wildcats, 3-8 in the Big Ten conference and 7-10 overall, are coming off two big wins. The ‘Cats defeated Michigan and Wisconsin last week. Cole was a major factor in the Badger game, scoring 26 of the Wildcats 70 points.

While Northwestern is in a rebuilding year, the Huskies are organizing their situation. At the beginning of the season, the squad had a goal of winning 20 games. It is impossible to reach that, but NIU is not giving up on being a strong team.

“We talked about the last eight games,” Albright said. “We are disappointed at where we are. If we win the rest of our games, we will end at 16-12. It will be an average year.”

Because everyone will return next year, the Huskies have the future to set big goals. Albright, however, does not want to count this season out. She said the team is getting identity and she does not want to lose it.

“Our individual goal is to execute and get better every day,” Albright said. “We don’t want to wait around till next year.

“I asked each player to ask herself if she is playing her individual best and doing that every day. We have to play with consistency and maintain that.”

NIU, however, does not want to be consistent in losing to Northwestern. The Wildcats lead the series 6-1, including a 77-57 win last season at Evanston.