The changes keep coming for the NIU women’s basketball team.

After losing three post players in the offseason, the Huskies’ starting lineup has featured two new starting guards the last two games.

NIU hosts Illinois State on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. before traveling to Dayton on Sunday.

Point guard Rachel Sillar and shooting guard Alyssa Verdegan made their first two collegiate starts on Saturday against San Jose State and Wednesday against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Coach Carol Hammerle said the duo made a big impression with their performances against Montana State on Nov. 29. The Huskies trailed by 14 at halftime, but led by Sillar and Verdegan got within a single point in the second half.

“It started in the Montana State game,” Hammerle said. “We weren’t very focused and didn’t execute too well on either end of the floor. We dug a hole for ourselves and I rotated Rachel and Alyssa in the game and they went out there and clearly made a difference.

“What they did was work hard on the defensive end and it was because of them that we made a comeback.”

After scoring five points, all of last season, the 5-foot-10 Verdegan scored 11 versus Montana State on 5-of-7 shooting.

“I just go in and play hard,” Verdegan said. “If I’m open, I shoot it. I do what I gotta do.”

The 5-foot-8 Sillar contributed two points, two assists and a rebound against the Bobcats.

“It’s a lot more comfortable for us this year,” Sillar said. “We’re more familiar with things. Last year was all new to us and now it’s getting to be more second nature.”

The Huskies defeated San Jose State 78-72 in the pair’s initial start.

Sillar and Verdegan both had key contributions in the victory. Sillar had a team-high four steals and three rebounds while Verdegan dished out three assists.

A Glen Flora, Wis. native, Verdegan says her offensive game is still coming along.

“Coach really stresses on focusing on the defense,” Verdegan said. “The offense just comes.”

Sillar downplayed any potential problems with Kristan Knake and Monique Davis, the two upperclassmen who have seen their starting roles taken by Sillar and Verdegan recently.

“Both of them are real supportive,” Sillar said. “We compete to make ourselves better, but there’s no tension or anything.”

Hammerle is unsure if Sillar and Verdegan will continue their starting roles. The fifth-year Huskie coach wasn’t overwhelmed by the duo’s performance in Wednesday’s game.

“I’m going to see what happens,” Hammerle said. “I thought as hard as they worked against Montana State, they did the opposite against Milwaukee. I just thought they were much more tentative.

“They were so focused and determined against Montana State, and all of a sudden we go against Milwaukee and they were a little more soft again.”