After a 2-0 start in MAC play, the schedule has been unkind to the NIU women’s basketball team.

The Huskies have dropped six of their last seven games and now must travel to Kent State for a 6 p.m. game today.

The Golden Flashes have won five of their last seven and are unbeaten at home in conference play this season.

“We just need to move forward at this point and focus on Kent State,” NIU coach Carol Hammerle said. “They are a very good team at home and from what I have seen on film, they can execute.”

The Huskies (6-14 overall, 3-6 MAC) have struggled to score lately with an average of 55.5 points per game, which is third to last in the MAC.

Kent State (13-8, 6-4) ranks second in the MAC in scoring defense and held Akron to 35 points Saturday – only 10 in the second half.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Raymond leads the Huskies with 15 points per game and is followed by forward Kristin Wiener with 9.7.

Junior forward Lindsay Shearer is fourth in the MAC in scoring for Kent State at 16.9 points per game.

NIU will try to shut down Shearer as well as Kent State’s outside game, Hammerle said.

“Shearer is a force inside, but their perimeter play is awesome as well,” the seventh- year coach said. “We need to contain their shooters and minimize their inside game so we’ll have our hands full, but I’m confident in our defense.”

Kent State has an 11-7 edge over the Huskies all-time and has won seven of the last eight meetings between the two schools.