Starting point guard Kristan Knake will miss tonight’s basketball game against Western Michigan, meaning NIU will miss an average of 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals.

The Huskies (11-14 overall, 7-5 Mid-American Conference) will deal without Knake for the second consecutive game, hosting the Broncos at 7:05 p.m. at Chick Evans FIeld House. Knake is expected to return from a concussion suffered in a double-overtime win at Ohio in time for Wednesday’s game against second-place Ball State.

The Broncos have had their own problems this season, playing without last year’s second-leading scorer in the MAC, Kristin Koetsier. As a freshman, she led Western Michigan to a MAC West title, but has redshirted the entire season with a knee injury.

Despite Koetsier’s absence, other Western Michigan players are performing well.

Karen Duerloo is averaging 17.5 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 57 percent from the floor. Against conference opponents she is even better, posting 19.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and shooting 59 percent. Sarah Hurrle averages 15.4 points per game and shoots 37 percent from behind the 3-point line.

“They’ve got a balanced attack inside and outside,” said NIU coach Carol Hammerle. “Karen Duerloo is picking up Koetsier’s slack inside and Sarah Hurrle is playing well outside. Hurrle is pretty complete.”

The Huskies will need Jennifer Youngblood to bounce back after an uncharacteristic 8-point performance against Toledo. Mickey Johnson also will be pegged to contribute — she had a team-high 14 points against Toledo, and Hammerle expects a similar performance.

Guards Kim Boeding, Monique Davis, Lindsay Secrest and Stephanie Smith also will attempt to fill Knake’s void. The four combined to shoot 10 of 34 against Toledo.

Tonight’s starting lineup will be switched around slightly, with three players fighting for two spots. Only Johnson, Youngblood and Boeding have definite places in the starting five. Secrest, Smith and Davis are competing for the last openings, to be decided by Hammerle based on who works hardest in practice.

Against Toledo, NIU struggled at times to get off a good shot, but Western Michigan plays a zone, leading Hammerle to believe her Huskies will have better looks at the basket.

The coach isn’t worried about her team’s play — only its mental approach.

“The biggie is confidence,” Hammerle said. “We have two games against Western and one against Central [Michigan]. These are games that I feel we should win. These games are what I mean by us taking care of business.”