Northern Illinois University women’s basketball coach Lisa Carlsen talks about her team following a practice last week at the Convocation Center. (Photo by Jack McCarthy / Chronicle Media)

The first venture into post-season play in more than two decades ended in disappointment for the Northern Illinois University women’s basketball team.

But head coach Lisa Carlsen figures last week’s Women’s National Invitation Tournament appearance won’t be the last.

The first Huskies team in post-season play since 1995  fell 94-84 at South Dakota State in last Thursday’s first round WNIT match.

“When (players) get a taste of all the hard work paying off, I think that’s where you build your program into a perennial contender,” said Carlsen said after the loss. “Once you give the kids a taste of that and they understand what that feels like, if you can continue to build that culture, you have the opportunity to continue that year after year.”

NIU went 21-12 in Carlsen’s second season, a 10-win improvement from her first year, the first 20-plus victory season in 20 years and the first winning campaign in a decade for the program.

Ten of the losses were to teams who reached either the NCAA or WNIT tournaments.

“It’s something new and different for NIU,” said Carlsen after overseeing an NIU practice last week at the Convocation Center. “It’s something that hasn’t been done in a long time and I think this being my second year and this group having the opportunity (for) the postseason is a great tribune to them.

NIU postseason venture came on the heels of their first Mid-American Conference championship game appearance since 1982.

And while Carlsen may be the architect of NIU’s revival, she’s quick to credit players who bought into her vision.

“They worked hard to put this team in the limelight,” she said.

Carlsen previously spent eight seasons at Lewis University where she guided the Flyers to a 148-89 record, four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and two Great Lakes Valley Conference titles.

NIU featured a fast-paced, high scoring attack that was fifth in the nation in scoring average (85.1 points) and is the nation’s only team with five players averaging double-digit scoring.

Topping the list was point guard Ally Lehman, who finished her career just 10 rebounds away from becoming the fourth player in NCAA history to record 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a career.

Former UConn star and current Minnesota Lynx guard Maya Moore was among notables to achieve that feat.

“It’s incredible to know we’re going to hang a (tournament) banner in here, and it hasn’t been done here since 1995,” said Lehman, who averaged a team-high 18.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and had 214 assists. “Coach Carlson, she makes you feel like it’s all worth it. I think that’s why we’re successful and we buy into her so easily because she’s always there for us.”

The Nineveh, Ind. native closed her distinguished career in 11th place in all-time scoring with 1,461 points, sixth in rebounds with 990 and first in assists with 538.

Next for Lehman is a career as a U.S. Army commissioned officer thanks, in part, to her ROTC involvement at NIU.

The Huskies had a shot at an NCAA tournament berth but ultimately fell  82-71 as Toledo rallied in the late going to secure a MAC tournament championship win earlier this month and claim the league’s automatic NCAA spot.

“We didn’t make plays on either end at times when we really needed to,” said Carlsen. “But I think you have to credit the opponent for a lot of that.”

NIU’s last tournament  appearance was a 90-44 loss to Vanderbilt in an NCAA tourney game on  March 17,1995.