NIU freshman Kristin Wiener has her work cut out for her this weekend when the Huskies (2-2) take on Wisconsin-Milwaukee (3-3) at 2:05 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center.

The 6-foot-2 center has earned a spot in the starting lineup, but will have the daunting task of defending the Panthers’ Maria Viall, who is averaging 22.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.

“She’s a good athlete,” Wiener said. “She’s got more height, so I’ll have to push her out of the inside and keep her off of the boards.”

The Huskies have struggled on the glass in their last two games. NIU was outrebounded 78-46 in those games.

Along with poor rebounding, points have been tough to come by for NIU. In the past two games, no player has reached double digits, something that isn’t worrying NIU coach Carol Hammerle.

“I guess if all 12 players score nine points we’d be OK,” Hammerle said. “I’m just concerned about consistency. We need to know who our go-to players are.”

Senior Lindsay Secrest leads the team in scoring at 11.5 points a game. Senior Jennifer Youngblood is averaging 8.3 points per game; Her career average is 12.7. Youngblood leads the team in rebounding at 7.8 a game.

NIU has managed to take care of the basketball, as opposed to its opponents. The Huskies have committed 60 turnovers while forcing 75.

The projected starting lineup will be Monique Davis and Secrest at guards, Youngblood and Stephanie Smith at forwards and Wiener at center.

The Huskies hold a 9-6 advantage over the Panthers all-time, but Wisconsin-Milwaukee has won the last five meetings.

“I think they think they’ve got our number,” Hammerle said. “We’ve just got to play them and play them hard.”