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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

NIU sophomore Kiera O'Shea strikes a pose during her floor exercise routine at a Jan. 13 meet against Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. O'Shea scored a 9.900 on vault, a score that is tied for the fourth-best in program history. (Courtesy of Dena Martz)

Huskies explode with team-record scoring in ‘meet of the year’

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 20, 2024

NIU gymnastics found its rhythm Friday after putting together one of the greatest performances in team history: multiple season-highs, even more personal bests, three podium finishes, and a new program record. Eight Huskies achieved personal bests...

Junior Isabella Sissi performs her routine on the uneven parallel bars during Saturday's meet against Bowling Green State University at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. NIU gymnastics is set to compete at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic on Friday. (Courtesy of Dena Martz)

Headin’ south: Huskies to battle Lindenwood, Fisk at Tennessee meet

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 18, 2024

DeKALB – A stone’s throw away from “Music City,” a team of trained performers clad in color and sparkle will take the floor with the same objective as every event before: shake the nerves, woo the critics and achieve a hit. But there’s a...

Redshirt freshman forward Brooke Blumenfeld shoots a fadeaway over a Lindenwood University defender on Nov. 21, 2023. Blumenfeld scored 10 points off the bench in a 65-58 loss to the University at Buffalo on Wednesday. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

Women’s basketball outlasted by Bulls, begins losing streak

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | January 17, 2024

DeKALB – NIU women’s basketball (8-8, 2-3 MAC) fell late to the University at Buffalo (9-6, 3-2 MAC) by a score of 65-58 to begin its third losing streak of the season. Senior forward Brooke Stonebraker led the team with 12 points and 10 rebounds....

Then-sophomore Emmalise Nock poses during her floor routine at an NIU gymnastics home meet on Feb. 17, 2023 at the Convocation Center. Nock tied for second place with NIU freshman Mikayla Brown on the floor exercise event to lead the Huskies to a victory over Bowling Green State University on Saturday. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Gymnastics grounds Falcons in MAC opener

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 13, 2024

Six different Huskies earned podium finishes as NIU gymnastics earned its first victory of the season in the first meet of its MAC competition schedule. NIU (1-2-1) outperformed conference rival Bowling Green State University (0-2) on three of four...

Then-sophomore gymnast Isabella Sissi completes her floor performance at the Huskies’ Beauty and the Beast meet at the NIU Convocation Center on Feb. 4, 2023. Sissi and the Huskies are set to face Bowling Green State University on Saturday. (Cheyanne Quintanilla | Northern Star)

Gymnastics eyes bounceback at Bowling Green

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 13, 2024

DeKALB – After a lackluster start to a campaign with MAC Championship aspirations, NIU gymnastics looks to bounce back heading into its second test of the season. NIU (0-2-1) will make the eastward trek to Bowling Green, Ohio, for a dual meet with...

Then-junior gymnast Alyssa Al-Ashari poses during her beam routine in a home meet against Eastern Michigan University on Feb. 17, 2023. Al-Ashari placed fourth on beam at the Mizzou Invitational on Saturday. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Gymnastics ties for third at Mizzou Invitational

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 7, 2024

NIU gymnastics tumbled and stumbled to begin the new season after tying for last in its first showcase of 2024 and posting its worst team score in a season-opener since 2018. The Huskies scored 192.755 as a team, tying with Southeast Missouri State...