It took the play of a veteran starter and an unlikely hero to help the NIU women’s basketball team break its nine-game losing streak.

Junior forward Jamie Wilson, who has started every game this season, and senior guard Rachel Sillar, who averages 2.9 points, were instrumental in the Huskies’ 61-59 victory Saturday at Buffalo on Comcast SportsNet.

The Huskies (7-19 overall, 4-11 MAC) trailed by two late in the game until Wilson converted a layup to knot the game at 59.

After a pair of Wilson free throws, Sillar knocked the ball away from Buffalo guard Brooke Meunier and saved the ball from going out of bounds to allow time to expire.

“Those two plays were the difference in the game,” NIU coach Carol Hammerle said. “I think that’s just an indication of the leadership that Jamie and Rachel bring to the floor.”

Sillar, who started in place of injured guard Mary Basic, scored a season-high 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting including 2-of-3 from three-point land.

“I would say that Rachel had the best game of her career tonight,” Hammerle said. “We shot really well in the second half from deep and Rachel had a lot to do with it.”

Basic is out indefinitely with a broken bone in her shooting hand.

The win was the Huskies’ first since Jan. 22, and Hammerle said it could help her team turn a corner.

“I’m glad we got the monkey off our back, and I’m hoping that it will help our confidence going into the MAC tournament,” Hammerle said.

Buffalo (4-22, 2-13) was led by Meunier, who had a team-high 17 points and eight rebounds. The Bulls have now lost seven straight and 12-of-13.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Raymond led the Huskies with 19 points and three steals, which tied her for the Huskies single-season record of 100 steals.