DeKALB | Today’s women’s basketball match-up in DeKalb between NIU and Western Illinois at 7 p.m. features two teams going in different directions.

NIU is riding a three-game winning streak after winning the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational at Northwestern, while WIU dropped five straight and is 1-6 on the season.

“We’ve been telling our ladies that Western is a good team, so be ready to play them,” NIU coach Carol Owens said. “They are a scrappy team and the type of team where their record is no indication of how good they are.”

Western is led by junior Stephanie Lovingood, who averages 12 points and more than six rebounds a game, both of which lead the team.

Although listed at forward, at 6’1″, Lovingood is able to play multiple positions and looks to create mismatches during the game.

“We need to contain her,” Owens said. “We’ll be changing around our defense a little, but we need to contain the perimeter mainly.”

Guard Sarah Miller looks to do some damage driving the ball against NIU (5-2). She is averaging just shy of 11 points per game and gets to the line five times a game on average.

“They have some guards who look to drive,” Owens said. “We need to control the tempo and get off to a quick start to keep them on their heels.”

NIU’s leading scorer, Stephanie Raymond, was recently named MAC Player of the Week after being named MVP of last weekend’s tournament. She is averaging 21.3 points per game, while averaging more than six assists per game.