The NIU women’s basketball team is more than just a team. They are a family.

In a time of need, it is always good to have some family there to help pick you up.

The Huskies (9-14 overall, 5-5 MAC West) resumed practice last Wednesday in preparation for their matchup with MAC West leading Western Michigan (12-15, 9-4) Wednesday night. And they did it as a family.

“It’s been a day-to-day process,” NIU head coach Carol Owens said. “Our ladies did a good job of coming together and realizing we are a family.”

Despite the difficult process, there is a feeling of normalcy starting to return with more time spent practicing and preparing.

“Most of the players have been playing since they were 3- to 5- years old,” Owens said. “They want to get back to doing what they have always done, and for some of them that’s a way to deal with things – go and play something they love.”

“Basketball for me is a way to outlet and clear my mind,” senior forward Whitney Lowe said. “The days we’ve had off I’ve been itching to get back on the court to regain focus on something else.”

Even with mixed emotions flowing, it is apparent the time this family spends on the court is helping.

“When I come in the gym, I feel a lot better because I’m thinking about what I have to do on the court,” freshman center Ebony Ellis said.

“This is a release for us,” junior forward Shari’ Welton said. “At least for a couple hours [it helps].”

As a family, the Huskies have been preparing for what is surely to be an emotional game for all the players, coaches and fans. And through the emotions, it is clear they are anxious to return to the court.

“There’s going to be a lot of different emotions that everyone’s going to be feeling,” junior guard Tara Michels said. “We’re excited to be back out there and playing again.”

Having to face the Broncos in their first game back, however, still hasn’t hindered this family’s excitement.

“I feel like we’re a better team than the first time we played them,” Owens said. “Western plays a lot of zone [defense], which allows teams to shoot more threes. We need our inside game to come out strong and that’s going to help the outside game.”

Owens also noted that keeping WMU off the free-throw line and containing junior guard Tiera DeLaHoussaye would be big keys to the game.

“DeLaHoussaye is their leader,” Owens said. “We definitely have to contain her because she’s a special player.”

Regardless of the outcome of the game, it is clear that this is the first big step for this family in getting back to having things as normal as possible.

“I know a lot of fans are going to have high expectations,” Michels said. “I think it will be good for us to get back out there, get playing again, and get back into the swing of things like we’re moving forward.”