After losing its last three games, the good news for the NIU women’s basketball team is that its next opponent is 0-8 in MAC play.

As the Huskies have a game at 7 p.m. today at Akron, NIU coach Carol Hammerle’s goal is not to take the Zips lightly.

“My biggest concern is that because they are 0-8, we won’t respect our opponent,” Hammerle said. “They’ve been playing hard and doing a lot of good things. They’re very capable, even though they’re 0-8.”

After falling 70-57 to Ball State on Saturday, the Huskies traveled back to NIU, practiced and hit the road again to Akron on Monday morning.

“It’s always tough when you play a 7 p.m. game on a Saturday and get back early Sunday, only to have to get up and leave again,” Hammerle said, “but that’s just a part of the conference schedule.”

During the Huskies’ current three-game skid, they have committed 59 turnovers. NIU has committed more turnovers than its opponent in 14 of the 21 games played this season. Of those 14 games, the Huskies have won four.

“Sometimes we dig ourselves a hole to start,” Hammerle said. “At Ball State, we turned the ball over and had to battle back after halftime. We need to be able to go out and get the ball.”