Preview: Miami (Ohio) at Northern Illinois

DEKALB, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Miami (Ohio) team riding an eight-game winning streak will face a struggling Northern Illinois squad when the women’s basketball programs meet Wednesday.

The Redhawks (16-4) have not lost since Dec. 14, a dominant run they will bring to the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies (4-15), meanwhile, have lost three of their last four and seek a signature conference upset.

Miami’s success is anchored by a formidable defense and the consistent play of forward Ilse de Vries. Over her last seven games, de Vries is averaging 14.1 points and 2.7 blocks per contest. She is coming off a 23-point, 7-rebound performance in a 72-52 road win at Ball State on Saturday, where Amber Tretter added 18 points and Tamar Singer dished out eight assists.

Northern Illinois will counter with guard Nadechka Laccen, its most reliable scorer. Laccen averages 13.1 points per game and is coming off an 18-point effort in a 72-62 loss at Eastern Michigan. She tallied 15 points and seven assists in a narrow loss at Ohio on Jan. 17.

The teams’ recent trajectories contrast sharply. Miami’s winning streak includes six double-digit victories, with its closest contest a 51-49 nail-biter at Bowling Green. Northern Illinois has been competitive at home, notching two of its four wins in DeKalb, including a 64-56 victory over Western Michigan last Wednesday.

For the Huskies, containing de Vries in the paint and finding secondary scoring behind Laccen will be critical. Emilie Sorensen (14 points vs. EMU) and Teresa Mbemba (6 points, 6 rebounds) will need to provide support.

The Redhawks will look to leverage their defensive intensity, which has held opponents to an average of 55.6 points during the streak, to set the tempo and avoid a road letdown.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CST Wednesday. Miami visits Ohio on Saturday, while Northern Illinois hosts Central Michigan.