Second — again.

Monday’s final round at Whisper Creek marked the second straight year the NIU women’s golf team came up short at their own tournament.

This year’s event proved especially heartbreaking for the Huskies. Coming off a first round 328, the Huskies led Missouri-Kansas City by two strokes going into Monday’s final round. The two-stroke cushion proved too thin as the Huskies eventually fell by four strokes.

“It’s a hard pill to swallow,” coach Pam Tyska said. “We can’t shoot a 348 and expect to win.”

NIU was not the only team to struggle Monday. No team bettered their score in round two, and only Dartmouth could manage to duplicate Sunday’s performance.

Janelle Warrick led the way for the Huskies, firing a two-round score of 164. Warrick’s 164 landed her in second place, just two strokes off the lead.

“Janelle has a keen sense of stepping up when we need her,” Tyska said.

Warrick also posted impressive numbers last year at the MAC Championships, shooting a personal best 246.

Senior Tara Hawkins finished just behind Warrick in sixth place. Hawkins shot a first round 80 before finishing with a 167. The sixth place finish was the best for Hawkins this fall.

Not all the Huskies had successful outings this past weekend. For the first time this season, Allison Beam did not lead the Huskies in scoring. Beam’s back-to-back rounds of 85 and 86 put her in 11th place, nine shots off the lead. Michelle Hupfer finished just one shot behind Beam, carding a pair of 86s.

Sophomore Irish Whalen was the only Huskie to improve on her first round performance. Whalen shot a 95 on Sunday before managing the windy conditions on Monday to finish with a 188.

NIU will open the spring schedule on March 8. The Huskies will host the 4th Annual Springlake Classic in Sebring, Florida.