The NIU women’s track team swept its competition and returned with a first-place finish Saturday at the Tadd Metzger Invitational.

The Huskies scored 197 points with eight first-place finishes while winning every field event except the pole vault. NIU did not field a competitor in that event.

Brittany Houghton notched victories in both the 400-meter dash and the long jump. The sophomore’s jump of 18-0 1/4 is a personal record, and her winning run of 1:01.85 is her best time of the season.

Elizabeth Berquist and Shoshanna Brown also posted victories in the high jump and triple jump, respectively.

Upsetting win

The NIU women’s tennis team posted a 4-3 victory Saturday over No. 19 University of Chicago for its first victory of the season.

Senior Dora Delgadillo led the way for the Huskies, defeating Chicago’s Christina Simpetru in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1. Delgadillo also paired with Katie Freidlund to post a 8-3 victory in No. 3 doubles.

Sophomore Brooke Forsberg defeated her opponent in straight sets as well, dropping Justine Kentla 6-2, 6-3 in No. 4 singles. The Huskies’ next match is Wednesday at 1 p.m. as they travel to Peoria to take on Bradley.

Giving credit where it’s due

After posting two wins against No. 27 Wisconsin on Jan. 27, NIU men’s tennis player Brian Livingston was named MAC Player of the Week.

“It’s a great honor for Brian and our program,” said head coach Pontus Hiort.

“It’s nice to see his success on the court being recognized by the rest of the league.”

In No. 1 doubles competition, Livingston and teammate Adam Ford defeated nationally ranked Jeremy Sonkin and Luke Rassow-Kantor of Wisconsin, 9-8. The junior then posted a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Sonkin in No. 1 singles competition.

The Huskies (1-2) face in-state rivals this weekend. NIU travels to Peoria to take on Bradley at 1 p.m. Saturday and faces Illinois State at 1 p.m. Sunday in Rockford.

“I think we’re off to a pretty good start,” Hiort said. “We’re ready and excited to take on the in-state competition.”

Back to your roots

NIU men’s basketball coach Ricardo Patton will face his former team in the sixth annual ESPNU O’Reilly Bracketbuster.

Except it’s not Colorado.

Instead, Patton and the Huskies will welcome Tennessee State on Feb. 24 at 1 p.m.

The Huskies head coach served as an assistant for the Tigers from 1991-93. Patton has only faced TSU one other time, in 2003. During that meeting the head coach beat TSU 71-44.