Following a respite from basketball games for finals week, NIU women’s basketball (3-3) will get back into action Dec. 11th against Chicago-State (0-8)

“Personally, I only have two finals,” said junior forward Satavia Taylor. “They’re both early, too, so I can get back to basketball related things quickly.”

During winter break, NIU will play 10 games, with only four of those being at home.

Taylor will actually be able to play for the first time this season, having transferred from Loyola-Chicago, in the match-up with Chicago-State, as she had to sit out due to NCAA Transfer Rules.

Taylor will add an interesting blend into the Huskies mix, as she can play at the guard or forward position, and has the ability to create her own shot. She also has an adept mid-range game.

“I’m extremely excited, nervous, and hungry,” Taylor said. “I’m just so ready to get out there and play officially with my teammates.”

Coming into this game, NIU will not have played a game in 12 days and coming in with only six total games played.

Chicago-State, on the other hand, will have played just five days previously. Pending the results from its match-up with Western Michigan, Chicago-State very well could come into this game without a win to its record, playing a total of eight games thus far, and going winless.

While this could be referred to as a trap game, Taylor believes it’s all in NIU’s mindset.

“I think it’s definitely harder against a team that hasn’t won,” Taylor said. “They will have the energy to get a win. We have to stay focused on our defense and do the best we can to control the game.”

Another intriguing factor is that NIU comes into this game with pressure-packed situational experience, while Chicago-State has mostly been blown out in its games.

Especially with a young team, experiences like this bode well for the future.

“I think that’s what the pre-season (non-conference) is all about,” Taylor said. “Finding each other’s strengths and weaknesses and then preparing for the MAC schedule.”