The NIU women’s basketball team will hit the road to take on perhaps its most challenging opponent so far in Kent State.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. If NIU defeats Kent State, it will be the Huskies’ first three-game MAC winning streak since 2008-09.

Currently on a two-game winning streak, the Huskies (8-10 overall, MAC 2-4) face off against a Golden Flashes team that currently holds the second best record in the MAC (14-4, 5-1).

NIU head coach Kathi Bennett is well aware that her player’s need to heighten their attention during conference games.

“We have to crank up the intensity and be more focused,” Bennett said.

Kent State has yet to allow an opponent to beat them on their home court with an 8-0 record. On the flip side, the Huskies haven’t played well on the road posting a 3-8 record.

“It’s hard to go into Kent and get a win because of the atmosphere they play in,” NIU guard Courtney Shelton said.

Shelton said the Golden Flashes run a four-guard set and they utilize that quickness on the defensive end. Kent State is allowing a MAC second best 58.1 points per game paired with league leading 37 percent defensive field goal percentage. The Golden Flashes have also displayed a knack of stripping the ball, averaging 10.83 steals a contest.

“They’re really quick and athletic,” Shelton said.

With an undersized lineup, Shelton is hoping that center Ebony Ellis can have a similar 15-point and 15-rebound performance she had during the Huskies’ recent 71-64 victory over Miami (OH).

“I think she’s going to come out of her shell her in a little bit,” Shelton said. “I want to see her go off in one of these games.”

Another NIU player is currently playing at a high level is point guard Marke Freeman. The redshirt senior garnered the attention of fellow MAC coaches earning her second MAC West Player of the Week Honors this season.

But if the Huskies want winning streaks to be a continuous trend, they know they can’t heavily rely on Freeman and Ellis all the time.

“You got to trust the rest of the team too,” Shelton said. “If they’re aren’t having that good of a game we need everyone to step up.”