It’s a simple concept, and one that many teams utilize, but the NIU women’s basketball team showed Tuesday in its exhibition game that it plans on embracing the idea of inside-outside basketball.

In a 65-42 win over Robert Morris College the Huskies scored 26 points in the paint, while getting to the free throw line 34 times mostly due to pyhsical play inside.

“We talk about being physical a lot,” NIU coach Carol Owens said. “Execution will come in time.”

Freshman Ebony Ellis led NIU with 11 points, most of which came in the paint. She also used her 6-foot-3 frame to pull down a game high 12 rebounds, five of which were offensive. For the game, NIU scored 22 second chance points thanks to 26 offensive rebounds.

“Second chance points were key in the second half,” Owens said. “Ebony did a great job in the Middle.”

Physical play in the middle opened up the outside for NIU, which will be key for it all season.

While they only shot 3-19 from three-point territory, the Huskies have many players capable of hitting the long-range shot.

Sophomore guard Kylie York is one of those shooters that benefit from the inside play of Ellis. Last season, York shot over 38 percent from long-range.

“It’s awesome having [Ellis],” York said. “She’s such a strong post player and presence inside.”

York scored eight for NIU and connected on a pair of 3-pointers.

While the inside players will open up the outside, the outside players can also return the favor if they shoot well. If the shots are falling it will open up the middle and give NIU’s post players more room to work.

“It makes it a lot easier,” Ellis said. “We work on the inside-outside game a lot in practice.”