Before the season started, NIU head women’s basketball coach Kathi Bennett said that building the program would be a process.

Years from now, Bennett may look back at this season as a missed opportunity for a talented senior class.

The Huskies’ (13-17 overall, 7-9 MAC) season concluded with a first-round exit from the MAC Tournament, losing to Ohio 72-56.

“I really enjoyed coaching this group,” Bennett said. “I think we really grew together and I’m really thankful for the opportunity I had with this group.”

When asked what she could take from her first year as head coach, Bennett summed up her experience in a simple way.

“It was a fun year,” Bennett said. “I thought we battled, and I thought we had some really good games. We had our moments where we had to dig ourselves out; that’s what a season is about. Those are the memories I really cherish in life.”

Bennett will be losing four seniors; Bianca Brown, Terriel Cannon and two starters in Marke Freeman and Ebony Ellis.

Taking over the senior role will be guard Courtney Shelton, who has admired and looked up to the four departing Huskies as role models, both on and off the court.

“I’ve looked up to them,” Shelton said. “They always come in and bring energy. [Marke has] always been there, giving 110 percent all the time. I think if I can try to do that next year, it will be great.”

While her college career with NIU has come to an end, Freeman envisions next year’s team having a particular theme. She even sounded like as if she was coming back for one more season.

“We’re definitely going to have defensive mentality,” Freeman said. “We’re going to play with heart, will and determination every game.”

Freeman even offered a candidate for who will be taking over for her running the Huskies’ offense.

“I’m very confident in [freshman guard Danielle Pulliam],” Freeman said. “She has a few aspects to work on offensively, but she is going to be a heck of a player; a heck of a defender.”