Northern Illinois University women’s basketball head coach Jacey Brooks announced the additions of transfers Nadechka Laccen (San Juan, Puerto Rico/St. Bonaventure), Neveah Wingate (Liverpool, N.Y./St. John’s) and Teresa Mbemba (Benguela, Angola/Presbyterian) for the Huskies’ 2025-26 season.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Keka, Nevaeh and Teresa to the Huskie family,” said Brooks. “Each of them brings something different to our team and I’m excited they made the decision to join our program. They are highly motivated young women who have worked extremely hard both on the court and in the classroom to get where they are in their careers.”

Laccen, a 5-6 guard, comes to NIU after playing three seasons at St. Bonaventure with one year of eligibility remaining. She started 53 of the 65 games she played for the Bonnies. Laccen averaged 6.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11 games in 2024-25 season. She had a career-high 9.4 points and 4.3 assists per game in 2023-24, starting 22 of 24 games played while leading St. Bonaventure in assists and steals. Laccen played two seasons at Tyler Junior College, leading the Apaches to an NJCAA national championship in 2021-22 by averaging a team-high 15.5 points per game with 5.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

Brooks on Laccen: “Keka is an experienced point guard who thrives in a fast-paced environment, bringing relentless energy on both ends of the floor. Her ability to dictate tempo and apply full court pressure makes her a gamechanger. As a veteran of the game, she has a deep understanding of what it takes to win. I look forward to the leadership and competitiveness she will bring to our team.”

Wingate, a 6-0 forward, appeared in 27 games over the last two seasons for St. John’s. She played in 16 games last season with two starts. Wingate arrived at St. John’s in 2023 as Liverpool High School’s all-time leading scorer with 1,452 points in her prep career. She was a McDonald’s All-America nominee in senior year when she averaged 19.4 points per game and was also an All-State Second Team selection. Wingate comes to NIU with two years of eligibility remaining.

Brooks on Wingate: “Nevaeh is a tough, physical post player who brings valuable experience competing at a high level. Over the last two seasons at St. John’s, she has expander her game and developed into a versatile threat. Her ability to score in a variety of ways and defend multiple positions will be a major asset for us. Nevaeh is a natural leader and her presence will elevate out team every day.”

Mbemba, a 5-11 forward, comes to NIU after playing at Presbyterian last season. She played in 12 games for the Blue Hose, averaging 4.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field. Mbemba led Frank Phillips College with 13.0 points per game in the 2023-24 season, adding 5.0 rebounds per game to earn all-conference honors. She comes to NIU with one year of eligibility remaining.

Brooks on Mbemba: “Teresa is a versatile post player who I am very excited about. She is long, athletic and plays very hard on both offense and defense. Her ability to run the floor and rebound will create a tough matchup for opponents. Teresa does a great job making big plays and I’m looking forward to watching her growth and the impact she’ll have on our team this season.