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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

NIU senior Mikael Vollbach (left) serves to University of North Dakota players as senior Cheng En Tsai ducks behind the net to prepare for the return. Tsai and Vollbach locked in with the other Huskie doubles, giving up only 2 games. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Men’s tennis dominates North Dakota, earn third win

By Sana Polizzi, Sports Reporter | January 27, 2024

Following a 6-1 defeat on the road against the Drake University Bulldogs, the NIU men's tennis team returned home to crush the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks in a 6-1 win. NIU was undefeated in doubles and only had one loss in singles.  NIU...

Senior Olivia Lynd and the rest of the Huskie gymnasts make their entrance to a Jan. 13 meet against Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. NIU gymnastics is set to compete in a tri-meet against Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University on Sunday. (Courtesy of Dena Martz)

Back in black: Huskies to host CMU, EMU in home opener

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 25, 2024

DeKALB – Fresh off a record-setting outing its last time out, NIU gymnastics prepares to host a pair of Michigan-based MAC foes in its first home showcase of the season Sunday. NIU (2-3-1, 1-0 MAC) will welcome defending conference champion Central...

Then-junior guard Jayden Marable attempts to dribble past a defender in an NIU women's basketball home game against Ball State University on Feb. 18, 2023. Marable, the shortest player listed on NIU's current roster, is second in rebounds per game for the Huskies. (Alyssa Queen | Northern Star)

COLUMN: NIU women’s basketball has become the face of mediocrity

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | January 25, 2024

NIU women’s basketball (9-9, 3-4 MAC) has dropped to .500 for the fifth time this season as it lost by double-digits for the seventh time this season. The Huskies have capitalized on the cushy games in their schedule, going 8-2 against teams with...

After a defensive rebound early in the game, senior forward Harvin Ibarguen (23) navigates around University of Toledo redshirt freshman forward Javan Simmons (1). The Huskies have fallen to 6-12 after starting the season 5-1. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

COLUMN: How NIU men’s basketball’s hot start has flamed out

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | January 24, 2024

DeKALB – A successful season seemed to be on the horizon when NIU men’s basketball (6-12, 0-6 MAC) jumped out to its best start through six games since 2015 with a 5-1 record.  After a road win over the DePaul University Blue Demons on Nov. 25...

Senior forward Brooke Stonebraker shoots a jump hook over an Eastern Illinois University opponent on Dec. 18, 2023. Stonebraker is currently second in the MAC in rebounds and third among forwards in points per game. (Northern Star file photo)

Frequent miscues bring down women’s basketball in Toledo

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | January 24, 2024

NIU women’s basketball (9-9, 3-4 MAC) suffered from continuous mistakes to fall to University of Toledo (13-4, 6-1 MAC) by a score of 72-52. NIU is now 1-7 on the road this season with six away games left to play in 2024. The Huskies started strong,...

Junior guard David Coit (11) hooks past Toledo redshirt freshman forward Javan Simmons (1) with possession of the ball. Coit led the team in scoring, with 23 of the team’s total 73 points attributed to him. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Depleted Huskies burned by Toledo’s hot second half

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | January 24, 2024

DeKALB – The “second-half Huskies” strike again! Despite a night of putback dunks and streaky shooting from the Huskies, NIU men’s basketball (6-12, 0-6 MAC) was outscored in the second half for the 11th time this season in an 89-73 loss to...

Sophomore Nataly Ninova (left) and junior Erika Dimitriev celebrate a point during an NIU women's tennis home match against the University of Wisconsin on Saturday. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Dimitriev, Ninova snag MAC doubles weekly honor

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 23, 2024

DeKALB – NIU women’s tennis’ No. 1 doubles team of junior Erika Dimitriev and sophomore Nataly Ninova secured the first MAC Doubles Team of the Week honor of the 2024 dual match season after routing a ranked opponent, the conference office announced...

A graphic shows NIU senior gymnast Alyssa Al-Ashari as the Huskie of the Week. Al-Ashari's career-best bars routine have allowed her to become the first NIU gymnast to receive Huskie of the Week honors. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Al-Ashari lands Huskie of the Week honor after bars victory

By Northern Star Sports Staff | January 22, 2024

DeKALB – A first-place bars routine and season-best finish in Tennessee have enabled NIU senior Alyssa Al-Ashari to become the first NIU gymnast to capture Huskie of the Week honors. Al-Ashari championed the bars at Friday’s Tennessee Collegiate...

Junior Erika Dimitriev prepares for her opponent's serve in a home meet against the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Saturday. Dimitriev won her lone single match against James Madison on Sunday. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Huskies fall to James Madison, remain winless in 2024

By Sana Polizzi, Sports Reporter | January 22, 2024

NIU’s women’s tennis suffered a loss against James Madison University, their second of the season. Although the team dominated in doubles, they could not keep pace with the Dukes in singles and were defeated 5-2 by last season’s No. 2 seed in the...

A graphic shows the dates of this week in Huskie sports. NIU gymnastics looks to build on their record-setting performance in their next meet against Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University. (Ria Pathak | Northern Star)

Red hot gymnastics set to compete this week in Huskie sports

By Northern Star Sports Staff | January 21, 2024

DeKALB – NIU gymnastics looks to build on a record-setting performance and men's basketball seeks their first conference win this week in Huskie sports. MEN’S BASKETBALL Tuesday, Jan. 23: vs. University of Toledo, 7 p.m. DeKalb / Convocation...

NIU women's basketball team huddled in a circle before the game on Feb. 18, 2023 against Ball State.  The Huskies defeated the University of Central Michigan on Saturday by a final score of 70- 57. (Northern Star file photo)

Second half surge sends women’s basketball over Central Michigan

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | January 20, 2024

DeKALB – A halftime revival sent NIU women’s basketball (9-8, 3-3 MAC) soaring over Central Michigan University (2-13, 1-5 MAC) by a score of 70-57, cutting off a losing streak and putting the Huskies back above .500. The game shifted in favor...

NIU track and field wins two events at Cyclone Open

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | January 20, 2024

DeKALB – NIU women’s track and field team finished its day at Iowa State with wins in the 200-meter dash and high jump, while also taking four other top five finishes.  Senior Malia Watkins earned NIU’s first top finish of the day, taking first...