At some point in all of our lives we have said “it is now or never.”

And even if it has not been in those exact words, there has been an occasion where we come to the realization that we either have to focus and pick it up, or give in to failure and defeat.

As college students, this moment usually happens at least once a semester, and usually about two weeks before finals.

For the NIU women’s basketball team, the moment is now. The season is more complete than it is not and the Huskies find themselves closer to the bottom of the MAC standings than the top.

Under first-year head coach Kathi Bennett and led by redshirt senior Marke Freeman, the team is not lacking proven success. Bennett came to NIU with a .624 career winning percentage and a resume of nine postseason appearances, as well as five conference championships.

From the guard position, Freeman leads the team in scoring average (16.6), steals (56) and three-pointers (37). Scoring 28.16 percent of the team’s total points on the season, the Springfield, Ill. native has handled her share of the workload.

But one coach and one player do not make a team. The remaining players need to find a way to contest with Freeman at the top of the rankings, as it is doubtful that NIU wants to be known as a one-trick pony.

In recent games, Bennett has expressed the desire to get another redshirt senior more involved. Center Ebony Ellis came into the season with high expectations after last season’s performance. Averaging 9.8 rebounds and 12 points, despite having missed 10 games due to a foot injury, Ellis showed her power in the paint.

Now healthy, the Joliet, Ill. native’s production has decreased from a season ago, averaging eight boards and 10.3 points.

Recently, Ellis posted a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds to boost the averages, but her strength under the basket is not what it once was, or needs to be, in order to compete with the strength of the MAC West.

Bennett’s installation of a triangle offense in mid-January has allowed Ellis to get some more touches in the paint, but Bennett said more is necessary. On Saturday at Ohio, Bennett saw some moves of Ellis’ that impressed her, and could indicate a shift from the Huskies’ dominance shooting from the outside and bring things a little closer to the hoop.

With one more go-around at the West, the Huskies may have found the needed balance of outside and inside shooting to show the teams that the time is now, not never.