Two signings have NIU women’s basketball coach Carole Hammerle excited.

The Huskies inked 6-foot-1 forward Nikita Odom and 6-foot point guard Whitney Lowe to National Letters of Intent.

“These two players are going to make an immediate impact on the program,” Hammerle said. “It’s going to be a privilege to have the opportunity to coach them.”

As a junior, Odom averaged 15.9 points and 8.2 rebounds for Hillcrest last year.

“I’m looking for her to fill the role of [current senior] Jennifer Youngblood. She will be a great addition to the frontline,” Hammerle said.

Lowe averaged 18.9 points as junior last year for Bushnell-Prairie City. Lowe also averaged 11.9 rebounds.

Volleyball signs a pair

The NIU volleyball team signed a pair of in-state players to letters of intent Wednesday to end the early closing period.

After signing Sycamore’s Amy Ward on Thursday, the Huskies signed Laura Baetzel from Burbank Queen of Peace.

The 5-foot-11 Baetzel twice earned All-girls Catholic Athletic Conference honors, while winning three consecutive regional titles.

While at Sycamore, Ward experienced four consecutive 30-win seasons, won four regional titles and two sectional titles.

Huskies golf gets two

Zach Jecklin and Jared Steger both signed to play for the NIU men’s golf team Tuesday.

Jecklin was an all-state selection as a senior at Bloomington, while Steger finished tied for sixth at the IHSA State Golf Tournament as a senior at New Trier.

“Adding two players like Zach and Jared speaks a lot for the direction this program is headed,” head coach John Cleary said.