Facing the best defensive team in the MAC was supposed to be a difficult task for the NIU women’s basketball team.

Hitting 10-of-19 three-point baskets can make that difficult task pretty simple as the Huskies (10-11, 6-4 MAC) cruised to victory 76-64 on the road Sunday.

Buffalo (11-9, 3-6 MAC) entered the game ranked first in the MAC holding opponents to 37.8 percent from the field. NIU finished the game shooting a season-high 54 percent.

The Huskies were led by junior Lindsay Secrest, who poured in a season-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting including six-of-eight three pointers.

“I just came in really focused today,” Secrest said. “I felt I needed to contribute with points and defense, and I did both of those today.”

Perhaps most astonishing about the offensive outburst was that NIU’s leading scorer, Jennifer Youngblood, found herself shutout in the game for the first time this season.

Stephanie Smith led the Huskie bench in scoring, knocking down five-of-seven shots including three three pointers to total 13 points.

Buffalo was led by senior Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe, who finished with 21 points.

“I was pleased with our performance, especially in the first half,” NIU coach Carol Hammerle said. “Our intensity and execution on offense were outstanding. It’s good to see that kind of execution especially after a tough loss on Wednesday. We made things happen offensively, and then our defense really riled them. They rushed some shots.”

NIU made 16-of-28 shots in the first half to jump out 38-25 at the intermission.

Buffalo attempted a rally in the second half, hitting on 16-of-27 shots. The Bulls pulled within six points with 7:24 to play, but NIU held them off with a Kristan Knake steal followed by a Secrest three-pointer.

NIU forced 26 turnovers in the game including three steals by Joi Scott, Rachel Sillar and Youngblood.

With the victory, NIU pulled into fifth place overall in the MAC. The team has won five of its last six contests to counteract a stretch from Dec. 15 to Jan. 18 where it dropped seven of its previous nine games.