THIS WEEK IN HUSKIE ATHLETICS – JAN. 17, 2022 – Northern Illinois University Athletics
DeKALB, IL – The NIU men’s basketball team rides a winning streak into Tuesday night’s matchup against Bowling Green at the Convocation Center. NIU Wrestling hosts Central Michigan and #21 Oklahoma this weekend as the Huskie men’s and women’s tennis teams start their indoor dual seasons. Women’s basketball, gymnastics, and track and field are all in action this week as well.
Men’s Basketball
Tuesday, January 18: Bowling Green, 7 p.m. – Tickets | TV: ESPN3 | Radio: WLBK 98.9 FM/1360 AM | Listen Live | Live Stats
Saturday, January 22: at Miami, 2:30 p.m. – TV: ESPN3 | Radio: WLBK 98.9 FM/1360 AM | Listen Live | Live Stats
Coming off back-to-back wins over Kent State and Eastern Michigan, the NIU men’s basketball team will begin the week with another home game as the Huskies host Bowling Green on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Game time against the Falcons is scheduled for 7 p.m. NIU will then travel to Oxford, Ohio, to face Miami on Saturday, Jan. 22. Full previews for both games will be available on NIUHuskies.com.
Women’s Basketball
Wednesday, January 19: at Miami, 6 p.m. – TV: ESPN3 | Radio: WLBK 98.9 FM/1360 AM | Listen Live | Live Stats
Saturday, January 22: at Eastern Michigan, 1 p.m. – TV: ESPN+ | Radio: WSQR 92.9 FM/1180 AM | Listen Live | Live Stats
NIU women’s basketball goes on the road for two games this week, starting with Wednesday night’s game at Miami. The Huskies won both meetings against the RedHawks the last season by a combined 22 points. On Saturday, NIU heads to Ypsilanti, Mich. for a matchup at Eastern Michigan. Full previews of both games will be available on NIUHuskies.com.
Men’s and Women’s Basketball
Thursday, January 20: Inside Huskie Basketball Radio Show, Byers Brewing Company (230 E. Lincoln Highway, Suite 100, DeKalb), 6 p.m. – Listen Live
Join the NIU men’s basketball head coach Rashon Burno and women’s basketball head coach Lisa Carlsen, student-athletes from each team and host Bill Baker Thursday night from 6-7 p.m. at Byers Brewing. There is no charge to attend. The coaches will preview their upcoming games, take a look back at the latest wins and give fans a heads up on what to look forward to at the Convocation Center, from promotions to special events and more. Note that future rescheduled games may affect the schedule for the Inside Huskie Basketball Radio Show. Fans can tune in and listen to the show live on NIU flagship station WLBK AM 1360 and FM 98.9 in DeKalb, and on the NIU Huskies app or on the NIU channel on The Varsity Network app.
Gymnastics
Friday, January 21: at USA Invitational (with Southeast Missouri State and Lindenwood), 6 p.m.
NIU continues its season-opening road trip and takes on its first MAC opponent of 2022 when the Huskies travel to Kent, Ohio for the Kent State Tri-Meet against the host Golden Flashes and in-state foe Illinois. The Huskies are coming off a solid opening week performance at Florida where NIU took second in the Florida Quad Meet with a team score of 194.550, the highest season-opening score since 2017. All-arounder Tara Kofmehl finished in the top four in three events – vault, floor exercise and the all-around, behind only gymnasts from No. 2 Florida. Natalie Hamp also scored a third-place finish on bars. NIU’s line-up featured six gymnasts making their college gymnastics debuts.
Wrestling
Friday, January 21: Central Michigan, 6 p.m.
Sunday, January 23: #21 Oklahoma, 12 p.m. – ESPN+
NIU Wrestling hosts a pair of duals this weekend at Victor E. Court. On Friday, the Huskies host Central Michigan in a Mid-American Conference dual at 6 p.m. that was originally scheduled for Jan. 7. On Sunday, the #21-ranked Oklahoma Sooners come to DeKalb. The defending Big XII co-champions are the first ranked wrestling team to come to DeKalb since NIU hosted Illinois on Dec. 7, 2018. A full preview of the weekend will be available on NIUHuskies.com later in the week.
Women’s Track and Field
Saturday, January 22: at Illini Invitational (hosted by Illinois)
An in-state competition awaits the NIU women’s track and field team this week as the Huskies travel to Urbana-Champaign on Saturday for the Illini Invitational. The Huskies returned to competition for the first time in 2022 this past Saturday, Jan. 15, at the GVSU Bob Eubanks Open, winning seven events. Kadeja Campbell won the 200 and 400 meters, Kimon Hines won the 60 meters, Kennedy Crawford took the 800, Scout Regular won the 60 hurdles, Kenyae Majors claimed top spot in the long jump and Katrina Small was first in the triple jump.
Men’s Tennis
Sunday, January 23: Illinois-Springfield, 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The NIU men’s tennis team will begin the dual match portion of its schedule on Sunday, Jan. 23, when the Huskies host a doubleheader of matches against Illinois Springfield at Chick Evans Field House. Play for the first match is scheduled for 12 p.m., with the second match scheduled for approximately 5 p.m. The last time the Huskies were on the courts, Michael Vollbach and Armin Koschtojan won the flight two doubles crown at the MAC Indoor Invite to round out the fall season in early November. Last season NIU went 21-3 in dual matches, including 7-2 in conference play.
Women’s Tennis
Sunday, January 23: at Illinois, 1 p.m. | vs. Eastern Illinois, 4 p.m.
NIU women’s tennis is back in action with two dual matches at Illinois on Sunday. The Huskies take on the Fighting Illini at 1 p.m. and Eastern Illinois at 4 p.m. NIU wrapped up its fall slate winning 16 of 17 singles matches at the Drake Invitational Nov. 5-7. Sophomores Diana Lukyanova and Anastasia Rakita, along with freshman Reagan Welch, all went 3-0 that weekend. NIU was 14-15 last season, the most dual match wins for the Huskies since 2013, and 6-8 in MAC play which was NIU’s most league wins since 2003.
–NIU–
