Despite a loss, Akron women’s basketball coach Kelly Kennedy could not have been happier after Saturday’s game at the Convocation Center.

Kennedy was happy with the way her team played against what she called a great NIU team. In her first year, Kennedy wants to build Akron in a similar mold as what NIU coach Carol Hammerle has done with the Huskies.

“I use coach Hammerle’s program as an example,” Kennedy said. “She’s done a tremendous job and she’s someone that we want to model things after, because they do things the right way. The kids played hard and we want to build a program that is similar to what they are doing here. They do a great job with their team.”

While her Zips fell to the Huskies 45-42, Kennedy saw progress in the loss.

While most teams could not take much from a loss in which their team committed 31 turnovers and shot 15 percent in the first half, Kennedy remained optimistic.

“I am so proud of our kids for the effort they gave,” Kennedy said. “Northern’s been playing well and our team battled. To play on the road is tough. Our kids keep fighting and that’s what I am so proud of them for.”

Kennedy stepped into the Akron job this year after Roxanne Allen’s contract was not renewed following last season.

In that season, the Zips won a single game, a 72-64 contest over East Tennessee State. Akron finished the year on a 24-game losing streak and was winless in the conference.

So far this season, the Zips have continued their struggles, winning two games in 23 tries.

“They have nothing to lose,” Hammerle said of the Zips performance. “They played very smart and executed well. Give credit to Akron.”

While Akron continues to struggle, Kennedy continues to stay positive. She looks forward to the challenge of building a competitive team, which will be modeled after the Huskies.

“I take that as a tremendous compliment,” Hammerle said about Kennedy’s comment to replicating her team after NIU’s. “We’re sympathetic to what she’s going through, it’s tough.”