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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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

The NIU men's basketball team huddles for a pregame talk about their match against Indiana State Dec. 5. The Huskies were defeated by the University of Iowa 103-74 Friday. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Hawkeyes down men’s basketball in blowout fashion

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | January 1, 2024

The Achilles’ heel of the 2023-2024 NIU men’s basketball squad: the final 20-minutes of a game. Another second half collapse by the Huskies proved to be the deciding factor in a 103-74 trouncing at the hands of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. The...

Sophomore defensive end Roy Williams holds a cooler high after dumping Gatorade on NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock. The Huskies defeated Arkansas State University 21-19 in the Camellia Bowl on Saturday. (Todd Thompson | Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Football finishes 2023 season as Camellia Bowl champions

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | December 23, 2023

An explosive first half from NIU football (7-6, 5-3 MAC) helped the Huskies gut out a 21-19 victory over the Arkansas State University Red Wolves (6-7, 4-4 Sun Belt Conference) in the 2023 Camellia Bowl. A high-powered offensive attack in the first...

NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock leads his players onto the Huskie Stadium field on Sept. 23 against the University of Tulsa. The Huskies will face Arkansas State University on Saturday in the Camellia Bowl. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Football set for bowl battle with Arkansas State

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | December 22, 2023

DeKALB – After taking down Kent State University 37-27 in its final regular season game of 2023, NIU football (6-6, 5-3 MAC) is headed to Montgomery, Alabama to take on Arkansas State University (6-6, 4-4 Sun Belt Conference) in the Camellia Bowl Dec....

NIU senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes attacks during the Huskies’ home conference match against Eastern Michigan University Oct. 13 at Victor E. Court. Dykes entered the transfer portal Sunday after starting 23 matches for NIU in 2023. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Volleyball’s Emily Dykes enters transfer portal

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 14, 2023

DeKALB — Two seasons after arriving at NIU volleyball as a transfer, senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes has entered the transfer portal for the second time in her career, according to a post by College Volleyball Transfers on X, formerly known...

Senior guard Jayden Marable dribbles toward the hoop during NIU women's basketball's game against Lindenwood Nov. 21. The Huskies downed Detroit Mercy by a final score of 75-66 Sunday. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

Titanfall: Women’s basketball downs Detroit Mercy in return home

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 10, 2023

DeKALB – A selfless team effort and stingy second-half defense by the NIU women’s basketball team Sunday took down a team of Titans. The Huskies (4-5) toppled the University of Detroit Mercy Titans (7-4) 75-66 at the NIU Convocation Center. NIU’s...

Sophomore forward Tommy Colwell shoots the puck during warmups before NIU Hockey's game against Arizona State on Nov. 19. The Huskies dropped their final game by a final score of 5-1 on Saturday. (Courtesy of NIU Hockey)

Marauders spoil end of Hockey’s semester

By Alex Crowe, Assistant Sports Editor | December 9, 2023

WEST DUNDEE – A night that started with celebration ended with familiar disappointment for NIU Hockey (1-20-2, 0-12 MCH), who fell to No. 6 ranked University of Mary (14-4, 10-1 MCH) in the final game before winter break by a final score of 5-1.  The...

Sophomore forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) is guarded by Indiana State players while going for a layup as sophomore forward Xavier Amos (13) waits for a rebound during the first quarter Tuesday. The Huskies fell to Monmouth at the buzzer on Saturday. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Monmouth downs men’s basketball at buzzer

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | December 9, 2023

DeKALB – A buzzer-beater three from senior guard Jakari Spence lifted Monmouth University (5-4) to a 74-71 victory over NIU men’s basketball (5-4). After holding a 41-29 halftime lead, the Huskies once again collapsed in the second half. NIU was...

Freshman forward Walker Smith pressures Midland senior defender Jack Royer NIU Hockey's game on Oct. 27. The Huskies welcomed new head coach Mychal Bangs to the bench in their 5-2 loss to the University of Mary on Friday. (Courtesy of NIU Hockey)

Hockey welcomes new coach, fall to Marauders

By Alex Crowe, Assistant Sports Editor | December 9, 2023

WEST DUNDEE – After the release of former head coach Brad Stoffers on Oct. 27, NIU Hockey (1-19-2, 0-11 MCH) welcomed its new head coach to the bench in its 5-2 loss to No. 6 ranked University of Mary (13-4, 9-1 MCH) on Friday.  The Huskies have...

Redshirt junior running back Gavin Williams (21) runs with the ball looking to get past Western Michigan's defense. The Huskies will participate in the Camellia Bowl after an up-and-down season. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Looking back on football’s rocky season

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | December 8, 2023

DeKALB – After rattling off five wins in its final seven games, NIU football (6-6, 5-3 MAC) is bowl-bound for the second time in the last three years. The Huskies will face Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl on Dec. 23 in search of their first bowl...

NIU women's basketball teams huddled together to celebrate after Tuesday's match against Lindenwood University. Though viewership has steadily increased, women's sports deserve more coverage. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Women’s sports coverage needs change

By Sana Polizzi, Sports Reporter | December 7, 2023

Even when history is made, women’s sports still fall into the shadow of their counterparts in men’s sports. The 2023 WNBA Finals were the most watched finals for women’s basketball in 20 years, averaging 728,000 views throughout the entire tournament....

Freshman Arianna Calloway sits in front of a gray background. Calloway earned MAC Women's Field Athlete of the Week after breaking NIU's high jump record. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Calloway earns MAC honor after record-breaking performance

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | December 7, 2023

After setting an NIU school record in the high jump in her first collegiate competition, freshman Arianna Calloway was named the MAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week on Wednesday. Clearing 1.80 meters, Calloway secured first place in a tie-breaker...

Senior guard Philmon Gebrewhit hands the ball off to junior guard Zarique Nutter during an NIU men's basketball home game against Indiana State University on Tuesday. Gebrewhit is averaging 10.9 points per game in his first season in a Huskie uniform. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

New Huskies making immediate impact on men’s basketball

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | December 6, 2023

DeKALB – After losing three seniors to the transfer portal after the 2022-23 season, the NIU men’s basketball team (5-3) has raced out to its best record through eight games since 2019. Senior guard Philmon Gebrewhit, sophomore forward Ethan Butler...