The Northern Illinois University women’s basketball team will return home for the first time since Nov. 27 as the Huskies play host to Idaho State inside the NIU Convocation Center at 1 p.m. on Friday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as 94-9 WDKB, TuneIn and the NIU Huskies App.

The Salvation Army will have bell ringers at the Convocation Center for Friday’s Holiday Hoops game. The funds raised through the red kettle bell ringing will remain in DeKalb County for residents who qualify for emergency assistance for a variety of reasons which may include food, rent/mortgage, utilities, clothing and furnishings. The Salvation Army is also encouraging fans to donate an unwrapped toy for its Toy Drive.

Fans are encouraged to wear their best holiday attire for Friday’s game. There will be opportunities for photos with Santa Claus as well as a Teddy Bear Toss at halftime. NIU Athletics will be giving away Holiday beanies at the Convocation Center entrance while supplies last.

Friday is also a $5 Kids Combo day at the Convocation Center. The Kids Combo includes a hot dog, a bag of chips and a small soft drink or water for five dollars for kids ages 13 and under.

NIU (4-5) is playing its third game in six days after splitting its two games at the Eastern Kentucky MTE in Lexington, Ky. The Huskies came back from 18 points down for an 82-78 win over Indiana State on Sunday. On Tuesday night, it was Eastern Kentucky who rallied in the fourth quarter for a 76-64 win over the Huskies.

Brooke Stonebraker (Versailles, Ohio/Versailles) was named the Mid-American Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week on Tuesday after leading NIU to its win over Indiana State. Stonebraker posted her first double-double of the season with 20 points, which tied a career-high, and a season-high 11 rebounds. She averaged 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in the two games in Lexington earlier this week, shooting 55.6 percent from the field. Stonebraker is fourth in the MAC in field goal percentage (49.0 percent) and seventh in rebounding (7.1 per game).

Chelby Koker (Racine, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) also had two big games in Lexington this week. Koker scored 10 of her 14 points Sunday in the fourth quarter to lead NIU’s comeback against Indiana State. On Tuesday night Koker had 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Her nine rebounds tied a season-high set in the season-opening win against Louisiana on Nov. 4.

Idaho State enters Friday’s game 5-5 on the year after a 67-50 win at Kansas City on Dec. 7. The Bengals got out to an 18-8 lead in the first quarter, shooting 66.7 percent from the field. The Roos closed within six points at the end of the third, but Idaho State outscored Kansas City 19-8 in the fourth to pull away for its third consecutive win. Senior guard Maria Dias led Idaho State with 26 points in the win. She is second on the team in scoring at 10.1 points per game. Halle Wright leads the Bengals with 10.8 points per game.