DeKALB | What’s the best way to get over losing a guard like Stephanie Raymond? Sign an incoming freshman point guard with loads of potential, of course.

Friday, women’s basketball coach Carol Owens did just that, as she announced the signing of 5’10” guard Charmaine Bell from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa.

Bell, a four-year starter at Roosevelt, leaves with school records in scoring, assists, steals and three-pointers made. In her senior year, Bell led her team to the Class 4A Iowa State Championship Game and averaged 13.5 points per game and 4.9 assists per game on the season. Bell joins Bianca Brown and Mauvolyene Adams in the incoming freshman class.

“I’m really excited about Charmaine,” Owens said. “Roosevelt High School has done really well with her guidance at the point guard position. I feel like we got a diamond in rough.”

Taking your nomination

Huskie fans only have 11 more days to submit a nomination to the Northern Illinois University Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

To submit a nomination, contact NIU sports information director emeritus Mike Korcek via regular mail (Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Highway, NIU, DeKalb, IL 60115), telephone (815-753-9559), fax (815-753-9540 or 815-753-7700), or e-mail ([email protected])

The committee will induct the class of 2007 on Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 and it will be recognized on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007.

Peaking at the right time

The men’s golf team placed third out of 14 teams at the IUPUI Wolf Run Intercollegiate. Freshman Andrew Frame led the way for the Huskies with a career-best second place finish at the event, good enough for a 155 (+13).

Dominating performance

The women’s golf team won the Loyola Invitational by 13 strokes behind the strength of three top-five finishes. Junior Abbie Many led the way for the Huskies with a 159 (79-77), which gave her a second-place finish. Teammates Lisa Bailey and Kim Hunley each tied for third with a total of 158.

A solid showing

The gymnastics team closed out its season by sending sophomore Leah Johnson and freshman Natalie Blum to the NCAA Regionals in Tucson, Ariz.

Johnson competed in four events to take 14th place in all-around competition with a score of 38.500. The Glenview native scored a 9.500 on the vault, a 9.700 on the uneven parallel bars and a 9.650 on both the balance beam and in floor exercise.

Blum scored a 9.025 in floor exercise, which happens to be her lowest score of the season in that event.

Continued struggles

The men’s tennis team is still searching for its first conference win.

The Huskies lost to Buffalo, 4-3, Friday and lost 5-2 to Toledo Sunday to drop their overall record to 7-10. Sophomore Brian Livingston won both his singles matches to pace the Huskies.

Needing improvement

The women’s tennis team also had a rough go of it last week. The Huskies came close to picking up their first MAC win one week ago today, when they faced Miami-Ohio, but lost 5-2. NIU (4-10, 0-6) came back the next day and dropped another 5-2 decision to Ball State. The Huskies only won three singles matches combined against Miami and BSU.