Following an impressive win Saturday over one of the MAC’s favorites in Toledo, NIU hopes to avoid a hangover as it takes on Western Michigan at 7:05 p.m. today at the Convocation Center.

NIU (12-14, 8-7 MAC) hopes to take confidence from the victory over Toledo and extend it throughout the remaining madness of March.

“I think we’re at our turning point,” senior guard Kristan Knake said following the team’s win over Toledo. “We’re peaking right now and peaking at the right time.”

The Huskies look to avenge an 81-48 loss the team suffered at the hands of the Broncos (15-11, 9-6 MAC) on Jan. 16.

In their original meeting, the Broncos’ sophomore guard Casey Rost dropped 24 points on the Huskies, shooting 8-of-10 from the field. Rost currently ranks second in the MAC in scoring with 19.6 points per game.

Western Michigan also has the MAC’s leader in both steals and assists, Maria Jilian, who averages 9.1 points, 6.04 assists and 3.8 steals.

But the player who NIU coach Carol Hammerle thinks might cause the most problems for the Huskies is junior forward Kristin Koetsier.

The 6-foot-3 Koetsier enters the game averaging 17.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and could cause problems for NIU’s starting frontline of Jennifer Youngblood and Joi Scott.

“We’re going to try and not let her get the ball,” NIU coach Carol Hammerle said. “Koetsier probably can get her points. The bottom line is that we try to control and do the best job we can defensively. Make them have to make plays to beat us.”

With a win, the Huskies could move up to a No. 7 seed in the MAC Tournament from their No. 8 spot. Moving up a spot, however, would be dependent on Buffalo losing to visiting Kent State.

In case NIU doesn’t have enough motivation, today also marks Senior Day for Knake and forward Kim Boeding.

For Boeding, it will mark just the second game back since a bout with vertigo kept her out of the lineup since Jan. 25.

Neither are prepared for the feelings they may experience before the game.

“I don’t know. It’s hard to say until you’re there,” Boeding said.

“There’s a little nervousness; we’re a little anxious,” Knake added.