Five Northern Illinois University athletic teams compete at home and on the road this week! If you can’t make it in-person, click the links below to follow all the action.

Men’s Basketball
Tuesday, Jan. 24: vs. Kent State, 7 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Audio | Live Stats
Saturday, Jan. 28: Vs. Ball State, 3:30 p.m. – ESPN3 | Live Audio | Live Stats

After winning a pair of road games last week against Miami and Eastern Michigan, the Huskie men’s basketball team returns home to host a pair of games this week. On Tuesday, NIU welcomes MAC-leading Kent State to DeKalb, the Golden Flashes are 16-3 overall, 6-0 in conference, and are tied for the nation’s third-longest win streak, having won 10 consecutive games. NIU will then host Ball State on Saturday, the Cardinals are 13-6 overall, 4-2 in the MAC.

In last week’s two wins against Miami and Eastern Michigan, David Coit averaged 22.5 points per game, shooting 63 percent (17-of-27) from the field and 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from three.

Women’s Basketball
Wednesday, Jan. 25: vs. Kent State, 6 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Audio | Live Stats
Saturday, Jan. 28: vs. Bowling Green, 1 p.m. – ESPN3 | Live Audio | Live Stats

NIU women’s basketball closes a stretch of four home games out of five this week, hosting Kent State on Wednesday night and Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies are 5-2 at the Convocation Center this season, averaging 74.4 points per game and 9.7 three-pointers per game. Senior guard Chelby Koker averaged 22.5 points per game last week in NIU’s games against Miami and Eastern Michigan. She is in the top-five in the MAC in assists (3.9/game), steals (2.12/game), and three-point percentage (37.0%). A’Jah Davis had her MAC-leading double-double last Saturday with 21 points and 13 rebounds at Eastern Michigan. Davis is eighth in the nation in rebounding at 11.3 per game.  A full preview of each game will be on NIUHuskies.com later in the week.

Men’s Tennis
Friday, Jan. 27: vs. Chicago State, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 29: vs. Cardinal Stritch, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Huskie men’s tennis team will play at home for the first time this season as it hosts a trio of matches this weekend at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. NIU will meet Chicago State on Friday at 1 p.m. before playing a doubleheader against Cardinal Stritch on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. The Huskies opened the season by splitting a pair of matches this past weekend, falling to Drake in the opener before rebounding to beat Marquette, 5-2. Christopher Norlin posted a perfect 2-0 singles mark to lead the way for NIU on the opening weekend of the season.

Women’s Tennis
Friday, Jan. 27: vs. Chicago State, 9 am – Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House, DeKalb – Live Scores (TBA)
Friday, Jan. 27 : vs. Eastern Illinois,  6 pm – Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House, DeKalb – Live Scores (TBA)

NIU opens its home dual match schedule Friday when the Huskies play host to Chicago State and Eastern Illinois at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House.

The Huskies played three matches in Kentucky in their first dual match action of the season, falling at Louisville and Bellarmine by 4-3 scores Friday and dropping a 6-1 decision at Kentucky on Sunday. Freshmen Nataly Miroslavova Ninova and Isabella Righi each won both of their singles matches on Friday, while Erika Dimitriev claimed a win over Louisville at No. 2 singles and teamed with Anastasia Rakita for a win at No. 1 doubles.

Gymnastics  
Friday, Jan. 27: at Illinois State, 7 p.m. – Live Scores | ESPN+
Sunday, Jan. 29: vs. Illinois State and Winona State, 2 p.m. – Live Scores (TBA) | ESPN+

NIU is in action both Friday and Sunday this week with a dual meet weekend beginning at Illinois State before returning home Sunday to take on the Redbirds and Winona State in a Tri-Meet.  The Huskies are 9-3-1 versus Illinois State over the last 10 years but have not won in Normal since 2012.  Conversely, NIU has won each of the last five meetings in DeKalb.

The Huskies are coming off a 195.425-193.600 loss at Central Michigan despite getting season high scores from five gymnasts. Natalie Hamp and Alana Anderson led the way for NIU as each recorded NIU meet high scores of 9.875 on uneven parallel bars and floor exercise, respectively. Isabella Sissi hit all four of her events for a 38.700 all-around score. The NIU floor squad also earned its top team score of the season with a 48.875 to highlight the event marks.