The women’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak, beating the Bowling Green State University Falcons 66-52 to pick up its second conference win of the season.

The Huskies started slowly, shooting 28.6 percent from the field and made only one of their seven 3-point attempts in the first quarter. Although NIU’s offense stumbled out of the gates, the Huskies defense picked up the slack. They held the Falcons to 28.6 percent shooting from the field in the quarter.

Redshirt junior forward Riley Blackwell scored four points and grabbed five rebounds in the first quarter to lead the way for the Huskies.

The scoring woes continued into the second for the Huskies, as they shot 33.3 percent from the field. Junior forward Ally May went perfect from the field in the quarter, scoring six points and grabbing two rebounds.

Related: Huskies lose back-to-back in the MAC

NIU struggled with ball control in the first half, committing  seven of its 13 turnovers for the game.

Head Coach Lisa Carlsen said  her teams inability to handle the ball hindered the Huskies first-half performance.

“We were a little loose with the basketball especially in the first half.” Carlsen said. “We looked like we were in a hurry and Bowling Green did a nice job making us play in a hurry.”

NIU took control after the break, shooting 46.7 percent from the field in the third quarter. Sophomore guard Gabby Nikitianite contributed four points on 2-4 shooting.

Junior guard Myia Starks led the Huskies in scoring in the third quarter, scoring seven points and grabbing one offensive rebound to help her team take the lead 41-39 going into the final quarter.

NIU pulled away in the fourth, continuing its hot shooting by knocking down 55.6 percent of its shots while only allowing 13 points to close out the game.

Carlsen said the Huskies defense as key to overcoming their slow start offensively.

“When you look at the entirely of the game our defense won us the game tonight.” Carlsen said.

May led the Huskies in scoring  with 18 points while grabbing 15 rebounds to seal the 66-52 victory.

The Huskies will continue MAC play 2 p.m Sunday at the Convocation Center against the University of Akron.