DeKALB – NIU sports prepares for another jam-packed week, headlined by NIU baseball beginning their season on Friday.

HOCKEY

Friday, Feb. 17: vs. Illinois State University, 7 p.m.

Bloomington, Ill. / Grossinger Motors Arena

Saturday, Feb. 18: vs. Illinois State University, 7 p.m. 

Bloomington, Ill. / Grossinger Motors Arena

NIU hockey wraps up the regular season with a weekend series against No. 12 Illinois State. The Redbirds downed the Huskies in its first series in November by final scores of 10-1 and 5-0. ISU sits second in the Midwest College Hockey standings behind only the University of Jamestown, while NIU sits in sixth. The Huskies will be looking to finish the season on a high note heading into the MCH playoffs next weekend. Both games will be streamed on the Illinois State hockey YouTube channel. 

MEN’S BASKETBALL 

Tuesday, Feb. 14: vs. Ball State University, 6 p.m.

Muncie, Ind. / Worthen Arena

Saturday, Feb. 18: vs. Miami (of Ohio) University, 3:30 p.m.

DeKalb, Ill. / Convocation Center

NIU men’s basketball visits Ball State on Tuesday and takes on Miami at home on Saturday. The Huskies enter the week tied with the University at Buffalo for fifth in the Mid-American Conference standings. NIU looks for revenge vs. fourth place Ball State, who defeated them in DeKalb on Jan. 28. The Huskies also face off against eleventh place Miami, who they defeated 81-77 in a tight contest on Jan. 17. Both games will be streamed on ESPN3/ESPN+.

TRACK AND FIELD

Friday, Feb. 17: Badger Invitational

Madison, Wis. / Camp Randall Sports Center

NIU women’s track and field travels to Madison, Wisconsin for the Badger invitational at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This will be the Huskies last invitational before they travel to Bowling Green, Ohio for the MAC Indoor Championships. 

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Wednesday, Feb. 15: at Illinois State University, noon 

Normal, Ill. / Evergreen Racket Club

Friday, Feb. 17: vs. Bradley University, 3 p.m.

DeKalb, Ill. / Chick Evans Field House

NIU women’s tennis team (3-4) heads to Normal, Ill. to face off against the Illinois State Redbirds (3-0) on Wednesday and will head back home on Friday to take on Bradley University in DeKalb. Coming off of a 2-5 loss against number 25 ranked Wisconsin, the Huskies were able to pull off a 5-2 victory against Marquette. The Huskies look to add two wins this upcoming week to get above .500. 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Wednesday, Feb 15: at Bowling Green State University, 6 p.m.

Bowling Green, Ohio / Stroh Center

Saturday, Feb 18: vs Ball State University, 1 p.m.

DeKalb, Ill. / Convocation Center

NIU women’s basketball takes on the top seed of the MAC in Bowling Green, who is currently 21-2 overall and 10-1 in conference. The Huskies fell to the Falcons 50-66 in their last meeting in DeKalb. On Feb. 18, the Huskies will face the Ball State University Cardinals for the second time this season. NIU will be looking for revenge against Ball State, as they were defeated 68-76 in their previous meeting.

GYMNASTICS 

Friday, Feb. 17: vs. Eastern Michigan University, 6 p.m.

DeKalb, Ill. / Convocation Center

NIU gymnastics will face off against Eastern Michigan University at home for a Mid-American Conference meet. The Huskies have been 5-0 at home this season and this will be the fifth conference meet of the season. Eastern Michigan hasn’t won a game this season and are currently 0-9 overall. 

WRESTLING

Sunday, Feb. 19: vs. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 1 p.m.

Edwardsville, Ill.

NIU wrestling travels to Edwardsville to take on Mid-American Conference opponent SIUE Cougars. The Huskies are coming off a two home game skid after being on the road since November. The 7-4 Huskies look to push past the Cougars to solidify the No. 1 spot in the Mid-American Conference going into the playoffs. 

BASEBALL

Friday, Feb. 17: vs. Oral Roberts University, 3 p.m.

Tulsa, OK. / Mabee Center

Saturday, Feb. 18: vs. Oral Roberts University, 2 p.m.

Tulsa, OK / Mabee Center

Saturday, Feb. 18: vs. Oral Roberts University, 5 p.m.

Tulsa, OK / Mabee Center

Sunday, Feb. 19: vs. Oral Robert University, 1 p.m.

Tulsa, OK / Mabee Center

NIU baseball kicks off their season this weekend with a four game series in Tulsa vs Oral Roberts University. The Huskies will look to improve on their 14-40 overall record, as well as their 13-25 conference record from last season. Oral Roberts finished last season 38-20. This is the first time in history that the two schools will face off against each other.