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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

A graphic shows NIU redshirt junior pitcher Adam Brouwer as this week's Huskie of the Week. Brouwer posted a career-high 13 strikeouts against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Friday while also earning MAC Pitcher of the Week. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

Huskie of the Week: Brouwer punishes batters in weekend sweep

By Northern Star Sports Staff | March 3, 2025

Huskie redshirt junior pitcher Adam Brouwer has been named the Northern Star’s Huskie of the Week for the second time in his career after his 13 strikeouts on Friday paved the way for NIU’s series sweep over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He...

NIU women’s tennis freshman Irmak Budak returns the ball with an underhand hit during a match against Valparaiso University on Feb. 15. Budak was announced as the Mid-American Conference Singles Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Budak skewers Big Red, earns MAC weekly singles honors

By Northern Star Sports Staff | March 3, 2025

NIU women’s tennis freshman Irmak Budak has been named the Mid-American Conference Singles Player of the Week for the second time this season, after previously earning the honor on Jan. 27.  With two wins against Bradley University and Cornell University...

NIU baseball then-freshman catcher Cooper Cohn (4) beats the throw at first base during a game against Ball State University on May 3. The Huskies completed a series sweep against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville during a doubleheader on Sunday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies complete sweep in first series win

By Kalin Schaefer, Assistant Sports Editor | March 3, 2025

Entering a four game series 0-7 all-time against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (2-9), NIU baseball (6-4) completed a series sweep against the Cougars on Sunday. Game 1 saw a dominant 13-4 win for the Huskies, before inching out a 5-3 win in...

NIU track and field then-freshman Faith Rouse runs, trailing closely behind a teammate Feb. 16 at the Redbird Tune-Up. NIU had two second-place finishers at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship, which wrapped up on Saturday. (Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics)

Track and field dominates high jump at MAC Indoor Championship

By Micah Huff, Sports Reporter | March 2, 2025

NIU track and field tied for ninth place with 30 overall team points and strong individual performances at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship. The Huskies competed in the MAC Indoor Championship Friday and Saturday in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The...

NIU gymnastics junior Samantha Nickle flips into the corner during her floor routine against Illinois State University on Jan. 24. The Huskies fell to the Ball State University Cardinals in a head-to-head matchup by a score of 196.900-193.975 on Sunday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies take loss at Ball State

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter | March 2, 2025

NIU gymnastics took a trip on Sunday afternoon to Ball State University for their third head-to-head MAC matchup this season. The Huskies continued to perform well on vault, but the Cardinals’ routines outperformed NIU. The trend continued across all...

NIU women’s tennis junior Nataly Ninova backhands a serve during her singles match against Valparaiso University sophomore Jolene Fernandes on Feb. 15. The Huskies swept Bradley University before falling 6-1 against Cornell University on Saturday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies dominate Braves, drop first home match to Cornell

By Kalin Schaefer, Assistant Sports Editor | March 2, 2025

NIU women’s tennis (11-3) split a doubleheader on Saturday, sweeping the Bradley University Braves (1-7) 7-0 before losing its first home match at the hands of the Cornell University Big Red (6-2) by a score of 6-1.  “I thought we competed really...

NIU men's basketball sophomore guard Nasir Muhammed (7) converts a layup after blowing past multiple Western Michigan University defenders amid the Huskies' 74-70 loss on Saturday at the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Muhammed finished the game with 6 points and 2 rebounds. (Erin Marie Barker | Northern Star)

NIU drops nail-biter with Western Michigan, extends losing streak to 10 games

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | March 2, 2025

DeKALB – Before Saturday’s Mid-American Conference clash between NIU and Western Michigan University got underway, plenty of excitement had already taken place inside the Convocation Center. Minutes before NIU men’s basketball began pregame warm-ups,...

NIU baseball then-freshman pitcher Ty Brachbill (7) tosses the ball to then-senior first baseman Mason Kelley (25) to record an out at first against Ball State University on April 23. Brachbill recorded 7 strikeouts in an 8-4 win against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Friday, after a 5-4 victory in the first game of the doubleheader. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Baseball picks up back-to-back wins in doubleheader against Southern Illinois Edwardsville

By Logan Whittington, Sports Reporter | March 2, 2025

NIU baseball (4-4) faced the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars (2-7) on Friday in a doubleheader. The Huskies won 5-4 in a comeback victory in Game 1 and secured an 8-4 seven inning-win in Game 2.  GAME 1 NIU struck in the first...

NIU women's basketball graduate student guard Chelby Koker (10) attempts a layup against Bowling Green State University junior guard Paige Kohler amid the Huskies' 84-77 double-overtime victory against Bowling Green on Saturday at the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Koker posted a game-leading 28 points in the victory. (Erin Marie Barker | Northern Star)

Huskies storm back for huge senior night victory over Bowling Green

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | March 2, 2025

DeKALB – NIU women’s basketball (13-15, 6-10 MAC) mounted a 15-point fourth-quarter comeback, fueled by graduate student guard Chelby Koker, for a thrilling 84-77 double-overtime victory against Bowling Green State University (16-12, 9-7 MAC).  “I...

NIU President Lisa Freeman (from left), NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier and Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach pose for a photo-op after a press conference Thursday at the Convocation Center in DeKalb. The university announced Thursday it will send its non-football sports, except for gymnastics and wrestling, to the Horizon League in 2026. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU finalizes move to Horizon League for non-football sports in 2026

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 27, 2025

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 5 p.m. to include NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier’s comments on NIU’s financial savings from the conference move and Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach’s...

NIU women's basketball senior guard Laura Nickel drives toward the paint amid the Huskies' 69-66 loss against the University of Illinois Chicago on Nov. 27. NIU lost to Kent State University on the road, suffering a 76-58 loss on Wednesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Women’s basketball falls to Kent State despite leading at halftime

By Micah Huff, Sports Reporter | February 27, 2025

NIU women’s basketball suffered its third consecutive loss Wednesday after falling to the Kent State University Golden Flashes by a score 76-58. With this loss, the Huskies fall to 5-10 in the MAC, 12-15 overall while Kent State improves to 18-10 overall...