Turnovers hurt the NIU women’s basketball team again as they threw away another game Wednesday against Mid-American Conference leader Toledo 70-51.

The Huskies (11-14 overall, 7-5 in the MAC) committed 24 turnovers and shot only 36 percent from the floor. NIU had a tough task ahead of itself as guard Kristan Knake was unable to play due to a concussion she suffered late in Saturday’s win at Ohio. Knake suffered the concussion after running into a ball screen and hitting her head on the court. The Huskies missed Knake’s floor leadership, defense and scoring.

The game began with a 11-2 Toledo run. The Rockets went with a full court press to begin the game and it was working as guards Kim Boeding and Monique Davis struggled to advance the ball. Toledo also went on another 9-0 run midway through the first half to put themselves ahead 22-8 with 7:33 left. NIU found itselves trailing the game 34-18 at the half. Kim Boeding tried to provide an early spark as she scored 8 of her 12 points in the first half.

“It took us a little while to calm down,” Boeding said. “I’m not really sure what the deal was.”

In the second half, the Huskies were able to cut the lead down to 10 due in large part to Mickey Johnson’s 12 second-half points. However, freshman forward Jennifer Youngblood struggled scoring only 8 points on 3 of 7 shooting. Monique Davis started the game at point guard in place of Knake and played excellent defense, compiling 5 steals.

However, Davis was very unhappy about the team’s performance.

“In every game, we go in looking to play the defense,” Davis said. “The first half was horrible but in the second half we got a little bit more aggressive.”

NIU’s defense didn’t play well but Toledo shot a sizzling 59 percent from the floor, hitting almost every one of their open shots, which made a comeback very difficult.

“I think they’re a good team,” said NIU coach Carol Hammerle. “If you don’t play the defense well and you’re not there to be able to contest their shot, and they have a good look, they are gonna be able to put it down.”