While many students were having a relaxing respite from responsibility and stress, NIU women’s basketball played a hefty amount of games over the winter break.

The 10-game stretch started off well for the Huskies (6-10, 0-4 MAC), winning three of their first four games, but it was all downhill after that, as the team ended the break on a six-game losing streak.

NIU’s starting lineup suffered some key losses. Guard Danny Pulliam is out indefinitely after having knee surgery in early December. Guard/forward Ashley Sneed also had knee surgery, made a full recovery and has started to play in limited minutes.

NIU’s MAC play has been unfavorable, as the team went 0-4 against Central and Eastern Michigan, Ball State and, most recently, Toledo.

The Huskies battled the preseason MAC West favorites Toledo (9-7, 2-2 MAC) in a war of attrition, which they came up short, 49-47.

“I thought this game was a defensive juggernaut,” said Toledo coach Tricia Cullop. “Both teams take pride in their defense; it was a battle. It’s been a few years since we’ve won in this building.”

NIU ran out to an early lead in the game 11-4, but was stalled on 11 points for over six minutes.

Going into the second half, Toledo began to utilize its size advantage at the forward and center positions, pounding the ball down low and grabbing offensive rebounds.

“[Yolanda Richardson and Brianna Jones] work hard; they’re beasts,” said NIU coach Kathi Bennett. “We all sunk and scrambled to get the ball out of her hands. We wanted to let someone else beat us.”

The game went down to the wire as NIU led by one point at 47-46 with two minutes left in regulation.

At the 40 second mark, Toledo forced a turnover and came down the floor, as guard Andola Dortch put up a wild falling away shot that hit the backboard and went in, giving Toledo a 48-47 lead.

With 20 seconds left, NIU had two chances to take the lead, one on a layup by forward Claire Jakubicek, which rimmed out, and an offensive put-back which didn’t hit rim.

After Dortch made only one of two free throws, NIU had one chance left with 4.8 seconds. The inbound pass to guard/forward Satavia Taylor went right threw her hands into those of a Toledo player, ultimately, ending the game.

“We were trying to get the ball in and get a shot up,” said NIU senior guard Courtney Shelton. “It was unfortunate when it happened; it’s not all on Satavia. It’s stuff where we can make one stop and it’s tied at that point.”