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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

A graphic shows the dates for NIU Athletic events this coming week. Wrestling’s trip to Kent, Ohio for the MAC Championships highlights this week in Huskie sports. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Wrestling heads to MAC Championships this week in Huskie sports

By Northern Star Sports Staff | March 3, 2024

NIU wrestling heads to Kent, Ohio, for the MAC Championships while men’s and women’s basketball conclude their 2023-2024 seasons this week in Huskie sports. WRESTLING Friday, March 8 at MAC Championships, TBD Kent, Ohio / Memorial Athletic...

Junior guard David Coit (11) shoots a three-pointer over Ball State junior guard Jalin Anderson (1) on Feb. 20. Coit led the Huskies in scoring with 27 points in a 75-72 upset win over the University of Toledo on Tuesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Unsung heroes lift Huskies to upset win over Toledo

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | February 28, 2024

Up 73-72 with 16 seconds left and on the verge of handing the University of Toledo Rockets (17-11, 11-4 MAC) its first home conference loss of the season, former student manager guard Steven Tipton stepped to the free throw line and nailed two free throws...

NIU senior gymnast Alyssa Al-Ashari salutes at the end of her bars routine in the second rotation of the Beauty and the Beast Meet on Feb. 9 at the Convocation Center. Al-Ashari serves as one of the Huskies four team captains while being a consistent standout on the uneven parallel bars and the balance beam. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Alyssa Al-Ashari’s ascent to bar and beam stardom

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | February 26, 2024

Every routine for Alyssa Al-Ashari starts the same way. Once the shamrock green flag waves from the nearby judges table, she gives her opening salute, and takes a deep breath in. As she expels the air from her lungs, the noise around her fades to...

A graphic shows the dates of this week in Huskie sports. NIU mens golf is set to begin its 2024 spring season following its MAC Championship title run in 2023. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Spring debut of men’s golf headlines this week in Huskie sports

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 26, 2024

NIU men’s golf is set to begin its 2024 spring campaign and defend their 2023 MAC Championship title this week in Huskie sports. MEN’S GOLF Monday, Feb. 26: at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, all day. Henderson, Nev. / Reflection Bay...

NIU senior outfielder/catcher Colin Summerhill throws during Thursday’s 10-2 loss to then-second-ranked Louisiana State University at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Summerhill’s RBI double in the ninth inning of Saturday’s rematch helped the Huskies avoid a shutout in their 5-2 defeat to the third-ranked Tigers. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Baseball outhits No. 3 LSU in weekend finale

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | February 25, 2024

Despite playing under the sunny Saturday skies of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, NIU’s offense played eight innings of baseball as cold as the temperatures back home in DeKalb, Illinois. Trailing 5-0 with two hits entering the ninth inning, NIU baseball...

Junior guard David Coit surveys the court with Ball State junior guard Jaylin Anderson guarding him in an NIU mens basketball game on Tuesday. Coit scored a game-high 28 points Tuesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Shorthanded Huskies run out of gas against Ball State

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | February 21, 2024

DeKALB – A depleted NIU men’s basketball team (9-17, 3-10 MAC) was outlasted by the Ball State University Cardinals (13-13, 5-8 MAC) 70-63 Tuesday. The Huskies felt the absence of starters sophomore forward Xavier Amos and junior guard Zarique Nutter...

A graphic shows senior Julia Finegan as the Huskie of the Week. Finegan took home two top-3 finishes at the Redbird Tune Up on Saturday. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Finegan outpaces the competition to earn Huskie of the Week

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 19, 2024

DeKALB – Senior Julia Finegan earned NIU women's track second Huskie of the Week honor of the 2024 indoor season by winning the 800-meter run and taking third in the mile run.  Finegan championed the 800-meter run at Saturday’s Redbird Tune Up...

NIU freshman gymnast Dawsyn Sallee salutes at the end of her vault routine during the second rotation of NIUs road meet against Eastern Michigan University on Sunday inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Sallee scored a 9.850 in the fourth spot of the Huskies vault lineup to match her personal best in the event. (Steve King | EMU Athletics)

Huskies drop EMU rematch despite strong finish

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | February 18, 2024

Six NIU gymnasts placed on their respective events Sunday as the Huskies took a second crack at a MAC foe in enemy territory. Despite their efforts, NIU’s gymnastics squad failed to overcome Eastern Michigan University at Sunday’s MAC meet inside...

Junior guard Zarique Nutter (2) shoots a jump hook as Buffalo senior forward Isaiah Adams (3) attempts to block the shot. Nutter led the team in rebounds, accounting for 12 of the team’s total 39. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

Huskies survive Bulls for third straight conference victory

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | February 14, 2024

DeKALB – Without the services of leading scorer junior guard David Coit, a short-handed NIU men’s basketball team (9-15, 3-8 MAC) snuck past the University at Buffalo Bulls (3-21, 1-10 MAC) 72-68 Tuesday. Despite missing four rotational players...

Senior guard Jayden Marable (3) dribbles the ball past Georgia Southern sophomore guard Paris Miller (2). Marable led the team to a victory with a career-high 26 points. (Katherine Follmer | Northern Star)

Marable dominates as Huskies pick up second-straight win

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | February 10, 2024

DeKALB – NIU women’s basketball (11-11, 4-6 MAC) overpowered the Georgia Southern University Eagles (13-12, 3-9 SBC) 91-84 in the second part of the MAC-SBC Challenge.  Senior guard Jayden Marable keyed the charge with a career-high 26 points....

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey warms up for practice on Wednesday ahead of Super Bowl LVIII. McCaffrey is set to start in the 49ers backfield on Sunday. (John Lochner | AP Photo)

The Northern Star Sports Staff predicts ‘The Big Game’ winner

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 8, 2024

It’s the Super Bowl matchup no one was hoping for. Two teams that have already established dominance in the NFL and two teams that have already faced each other in the biggest sporting event in the United States. Everyone was hoping Lamar Jackson...

The 2024 NIU softball team poses for its official team photo. The Huskies open their season Friday at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic, facing five teams in three days. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Hungry for crown: Softball chases conference conquest

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | February 7, 2024

DeKALB – When asked about her team’s strengths, NIU softball head coach Christina Sutcliffe offered three words to describe her team: gritty, spunky and fast. Guided by its 12th-year skipper, NIU will look to use that grit, spunk and speed in 2024...