DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team opens Mid-American Conference play on the road Saturday, taking on the Ohio Bobcats at 12 p.m.
 
The Huskies are 4-7 heading into the new calendar year after a 73-49 loss to Drake at the NIU Convocation Center on December 29. Nine different Huskies scored in the game led by senior Myia Starks' (Plainfield, Ill./Nequa Valley) nine points. She also tied a career-high with six steals. Freshman Grace Hunter (Monroeville, Ind./Bellmont) made a pair of three-pointers on her way to eight points. The Huskies shot just 28.1 percent from the field and scored just 13 points off of 23 Drake turnovers.
 
NIU has won five of its last six conference openers dating back to 2014. Last season, the Huskies defeated Miami 82-71 at the Convocation Center to start MAC play 1-0. Each of those five opening wins was by six points or more with three victories by double digits.
 
Ohio was named the unanimous favorites in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll and enter Saturday 7-4 after a 70-58 over Chattanooga on December 29. Cece Hooks led the Bobcats with 21 points as Erica Johnson added 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Ohio is second in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 61.9 points per game and leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage defense at 25.9 percent. The Bobcats lead the all-time series 20-19, defeating the Huskies twice last season including a 72-56 win in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals in Cleveland.
 
NIU stays on the road following Saturday's game to face the Miami RedHawks on Wednesday, January 8.
 
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