While things were heating up outside this weekend, the NIU women’s basketball team was experiencing a deep freeze.

In a 67-50 loss to Kent State on Saturday, the Huskies shot a season-low 28.6 percent from the field. NIU was also out-rebounded for the first time since Jan. 14. The Golden Flashes grabbed 51 boards to the Huskies’ 36. KSU also nabbed 20 offensive rebounds to NIU’s 11.

“They realized the type of team we are,” said NIU head coach Carol Owens. “We weren’t ready to play. They were more aggressive.”

KSU (16-5 overall, 5-4 MAC) started the game with a 7-0 lead. NIU was able to respond with its own 8-0 run. With 11:36 left in the first half the Huskies (11-11, 6-3) held its only lead of the night.

The Golden Flashes produced a 10-0 run over the next 3:30. The Huskies were forced to play catch up the rest of the game, but never regained a lead.

“It’s always hard to come from behind,” said NIU guard Kylie York. “We can’t do that anymore coming down the season.”

York led NIU in scoring with 13 points. The junior converted four of her 11 attempts behind the arc.

The only other Huskie who scored double-digits was guard Marke Freeman. The Huskie only shot 3-10 from the field, but was a perfect 6-6 from the foul line.

KSU was led in scoring by Anna Kowalska. The center put up 19 points. Close behind Kowalska were guards Jamilah Humes and Rachel Bennett, who had 17 and 12 points, respectively.

With seven games left until the start of the MAC tournament, NIU hopes it can learn from its mistakes this weekend. The lesson Owens wants her team to take away from this loss the most

is that they can’t lose their edge that they had earlier in the season.

“We have to continue to be the team that comes in and be aggressive,” the coach said. “We have to learn that nothing is going to come easy to us.”