While temperatures still hover around the freezing mark in DeKalb, the Huskie women’s golf team is in full swing, making use of the indoor facilities on the NIU campus.

The Huskies have been weight conditioning since the end of their fall season and have practiced hitting once a week in Anderson Hall since Christmas break. But, that’s soon to change.

Yesterday, the team acquired equipment that will enable them to move over to Chick Evans Field House and practice four to five times a week.

“The indoor facilities are surprisingly really realistic,” coach Pam Tyska said of the putting greens and hitting cages. “The putting platforms are excellent for practicing on. Everybody’s been practicing really hard and really hitting the weights seriously.

“If we keep this up, we’re definitely going to have some NIU action in the postseason tournament this spring.”

NIU is among the Top-25 teams from last fall and opens its season this year in Orlando, Fla., during spring break. The Huskies will participate in a three-day tournament there and then move on to Tampa where they will host their own tourney. That will be the only meet the Huskies will host all season.

“We start our season too early and the weather isn’t nice enough to have a home meet,” Tyska said. “Not many Northern teams have home meets in the spring. Pretty soon, Mother Nature should be giving us a break, though, and we’ll get outside. We might have an opportunity this weekend.

“But it’s not like we won’t have a chance to get out on the grass in Florida. We’ll be there a day and a half before we have to play, so that’s enough time.”

Standout senior Nicole Jeray returns for the Huskies this spring. She’s currently ranked among the Top-30 in the country and second in the Midwest.

“Nicole is looking for a real good spring season,” Tyska said. “Her fall season was outstanding and she’s looking to do the same. She’s been working really hard.”