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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 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, Senior 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...

Senior forward Brooke Stonebraker (34) attempts to box out Bowling Green State University senior forward Sophie Dziekan (3). Stonebraker scored 13 points in a 82-73 loss to the Falcons Saturday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Women’s basketball falls short in offensive outburst

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | February 24, 2024

DeKALB – NIU women’s basketball (13-13, 6-8 MAC) drops 82-73 shootout as the Bowling Green State University Falcons (14-11, 8-6 MAC) soared on the back of junior guard Amy Velasco. Velasco was a powerhouse on both sides of the ball, accumulating...

Senior forward Brooke Stonebraker (34) shoots a jump shot over an Akron University opponent. Stonebraker earned her eighth double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds in Wednesday's win over the University at Buffalo Bulls. (Northern Star File Photo)

Women’s basketball decisively defeats Bulls in rematch

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | February 22, 2024

NIU women’s basketball (13-12, 6-7 MAC) cruised past the University at Buffalo Bulls (14-10, 7-6 MAC) by a score of 66-57, leading for 35 minutes of game time in a revenge win. Five weeks after losing to the Bulls at home, the Huskies bit back to...

Sophomore Isabella Righi sets up her serve in an NIU women's tennis home meet. Righi won her match against Chicago State sophomore Amina Taibi 6-2, 6-4 as women's tennis defeated the Cougars 4-3 Sunday. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Women’s tennis goes 1-1 in Chicago area road trip

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | February 20, 2024

Splitting the day on Sunday, NIU women’s tennis (6-5) pulled out a 4-3 win against Chicago State University, before losing to Northwestern University 4-0.  In contrast to the Huskies’ past success in doubles, they did not win a doubles match against...

NIU freshman gymnast Dawsyn Sallee salutes at the end of her vault routine during the second rotation of NIU's 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, Senior 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...

Then junior catcher Ellis Erickson (23) tosses the ball to the pitcher as Central Michigan University batters switch out on April 2, 2023. Erickson had two hits in a 6-5 loss to Central Michigan Sunday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Softball can’t capitalize, loses to Central Michigan

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | February 18, 2024

NIU softball (3-7) fell short against the Central Michigan University Chippewas (1-4) leaving the bases loaded in the sixth and losing 6-5 to finish 1-4 in the South Alabama Tournament. “Every loss matters,” said NIU softball head coach Christina...

Then NIU freshman pitcher and utility player Danielle Stewart (22) reaches for the ball as then junior catcher Ellis Erickson (23) passes it at home plate during NIU Softball's home game against Central Michigan University March 31, 2023. Stewart struck out eight batters in a complete game win over University of Alabama at Birmingham Saturday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Softball splits Day 2 of South Alabama Invitational

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 17, 2024

NIU softball stole nine bases and struck out as many batters en route to splitting the second day of the South Alabama Invitational on Saturday in Mobile, Alabama. The Huskies (3-6) upended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (3-4) 5-1 in the morning...

Junior guard Laura Nickel (32) dribbles the ball down the court toward her teammates Feb. 14 against Western Michigan University. Nickel recorded a season-high 12 points in Saturday's win over Eastern Michigan University. (Katherine Follmer | Northern Star)

Women’s basketball rebounds to take rematch over EMU

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | February 17, 2024

NIU women’s basketball (12-12, 5-7 MAC) survived a rematch with the Eastern Michigan Eagles (6-17, 2-10 MAC), winning 61-52 three days after a season-low score of 47. The Eagles gave the Huskies a scare with a third-quarter buzzer-beater to take...

Senior Diana Lukyanova prepares for a strike at the Chick Evans Field House. Lukyanova was 3-0 in finished singles and doubles matches Friday against Western Illinois University and Bradley University. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Women’s tennis undefeated against Western Illinois and Bradley

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | February 17, 2024

NIU women’s tennis (5-4) sailed past both Western Illinois University (1-7), 7-0, and Bradley University (2-6), 4-0, without dropping a match.  The Huskies did not lose a match against Western Illinois, but one match went unfinished.  In doubles,...

Senior middle distance runner Julia Finegan runs past an Eastern Illinois University opponent at the Redbird Tune Up on Friday. Finegan brought home two top-five finishes for the Huskies Friday. (Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics)

Track & field takes 3 top spots at the Redbird Tune Up

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | February 17, 2024

NIU women’s track and field took home 13 top-five finishes, including three first-place finishes in the high jump, 800-meter run and 200-meter dash in the Redbird Tune Up on Friday. The Huskies swept the top-five for the 200-meter dash, with junior...

Freshman gymnast Isabella Ross poses while her teammates cheer for
her completed routine. NIU gymnastics will face Eastern Michigan University Sunday. (Totus Tuus Keely |
Northern Star)

‘We got a little payback in us’: Huskies ready for rematch with Eagles

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 15, 2024

DeKALB – Before she blossomed into NIU gymnastics’ bar star and beam queen, senior Alyssa Al-Ashari got her start in the Great Lake State of Michigan. Nearly halfway into her swansong season at NIU, Al-Ashari’s set to compete in her home state...

Former NIU Director of Athletics Cary Groth (left), ESPN Sportscenter Anchor Nicole Briscoe and Dr. Tonya Davis sit on stage at a Women’s Excellence Panel Discussion held Feb. 7 in the south lobby of the Convocation Center. The three panelists discussed prevalent topics revolving around women’s empowerment at the event celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Former Huskies tackle topics in women’s sports

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 15, 2024

DeKALB – Former NIU Director of Athletics Cary Groth regaled a packed audience with her account of the celebration following NIU football’s storied 2003 upset win over the University of Alabama, after which former NIU President John Peters chugged...