Not again.

For the second game in a row, the Northwestern women’s basketball team had a lead going into halftime. For the second game in a row, the Wildcats took a formidable conference opponent to overtime.

And Thursday night, for the second game in a row, they lost.

This time it was to the Michigan State Spartans, 67-57.

“It’s really frustrating,” guard Alex Mueller said.

Frustrating is right. The Cats are 0-6 in the Big Ten this season — good for last place — and haven’t won a conference game in almost a calendar year.

Night after night, they chase that elusive Big Ten win. And recently, night after night, it’s been snatched from them.

They lost an agonizingly close game at Indiana on Sunday, falling to the Hoosiers in overtime, 58-55.

It looked as though they might finally get a conference win Thursday — against No. 20 Michigan State, of all teams. The Cats controlled much of the game, leading by as many as 13 points and making the Spartans work to send the game to overtime.

Tied 53-53, they were so close they could not only taste it, but smell it, see it and feel it. They just couldn’t do it.

The Cats were outscored 14-4 in the extra session, sending another valiant effort to waste.

Two games. Two overtimes. Two losses. How much more can one team take?

The players held their heads high as they shook the Spartans’ hands, but you have to wonder how long they can keep this up without getting completely demoralized.

Coach June Olkowski, for one, looked like her dog had just died. Her shoulders were slumped, and her jaw was tight. Her eyes never left the floor.

After the heartbreaker in Indiana, she was near tears.

What else is she supposed to do?

Her Cats gave a stellar performance against a Michigan State team no one thought they had a chance to beat.

On Sunday, the Spartans put a 67-33 thumping on Michigan — a team that beat NU by nearly 20 points. According to the transitive property, NU should have lost by at least 54.

But the Cats looked far from intimidated, surprising the Spartans’ defense by scoring 30 points in the first half alone.

Three players — Sarah Kwasinski, Alex Mueller and Ifeoma Okonkwo — gave double-digit performances.

Kwasinski, the Cats’ star center who has been banged up all season by injuries, scored a team-high 13 points. She also drew the attention of Spartans defenders, creating opportunities for her teammates outside the arc.

Guard Breanne Smilie stepped up to contribute seven points, including two three-pointers. A four-point play in the first half doubled her total against Indiana by itself.

The loss may have been devastating, but such a performance against a team like Wisconsin — who the Cats play Sunday — could be enough to get them their first victory.

NU has proven it can play with the big guns. Now the Cats have to prove they can beat the smaller ones.

“We know that we’re going to get a win,” Olkowski said.

Her players, too, insist victory is imminent.

Let’s hope the third time’s the charm.

Kara Reinhardt is a Medill junior. She can be reached at [email protected].