Forgive the NIU women’s basketball team if it takes some time to adjust to its environment this weekend.

After spending last Thanksgiving competing in the Asahi Rainbow Wahine Classic in sunny Hawaii, the Huskies head to the frozen tundra of Fairbanks, Alaska, this holiday weekend to compete in the Mount McKinley Bank North Star Invitational.

NIU will play host Alaska-Fairbanks in a Friday nightcap after Western Illinois takes on Long Beach State.

The championship match will be Saturday at 8p.m., with the consolation match before. Coach Carol Hammerle doesn’t want to hear about consolation matches.

“We’re going up there with the intent of winning the tournament,” Hammerle. “That’s certainly our goal.”

The Huskies head into the tournament with a 1-1 record after rebounding to beat Northwestern 68-63 Sunday and falling to Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday.

Junior co-captain Kristan Knake is the team’s leading scorer through two games, averaging 12 points per game.

“We’re really starting to play together as a team,” said Hammerle. “Unity, cohesiveness, whatever you want to call it, it’s all coming together for us.

“Every time we make a big stop defensively, we’re feeding off that on the offensive end.”

The Nanooks are a Division II entry but are sure to prove worthy competitors for the Huskies. They are 3-1 this season under coach Jenny Benson after posting a 20-9 mark last season.

“I’ve seen a little film of them, but I’m not sure where their strength will come from,” said Hammerle of the Nanooks. “Their tallest player is only 6 foot 2, so I’m sure they have some strong perimeter players.

“They’ve played some 1-3-1 zone, and they’ve also played some man-to-man. I’m sure they’ll throw a little bit of both at us.”