Women's Basketball | November 8

DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team opens its 2023-24 season Thursday morning at Arkansas State in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Tip-off is at 11 a.m. CT with the game broadcast on ESPN+ and locally on WDKB 94-9 FM and the NIU Huskies and Varsity Network apps.

The Huskies held Ripon College under 25 percent from the field in last Saturday's 104-43 exhibition victory at the NIU Convocation Center. NIU led 46-28 at halftime and outscored the Red Hawks 30-8 in the third quarter. The Huskies outrebounded Ripon 59-38 and scored 24 points off 24 turnovers. NIU had 24 assists on 33 made baskets with only seven turnovers.

Six Huskies scored in double figures led by junior guard Laura Nickel's (Marshall, Wis./Marshall HS) 15 points. Nickel was 5-for-8 from the field and added five assists and four rebounds. The junior played in all 33 games last season, averaging 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Senior guard Jayden Marable (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) had 14 points and a game-high seven assists with no turnovers. Marable led NIU minutes played a year ago, averaging 31.2 per game with a 2.0 assist-turnover ratio.

Fifth-year guard Chelby Koker (Racine, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) was named to the Preseason All-MAC First Team while NIU was picked fifth in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Koker was an All-MAC Second Team pick last season, averaging 15.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while leading the Huskies in three-point percentage at 37.6 percent.

Arkansas State is 0-1 on the year after a 55-42 loss at South Dakota State Monday night. Junior guard Izzy Higginbottom, last season's Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, led the Red Wolves with 22 points against the Jackrabbits. She led Arkansas State last season with 16.0 points and 3.4 assists per game. Last year Arkansas State went 13-19 with a 6-12 league mark.

Thursday's game is the second meeting all-time between NIU and Arkansas State. The two teams opened the 1994-95 season in DeKalb with the Red Wolves winning 74-70. NIU is 9-6 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference.

The Huskies are on the road on Sunday, Nov. 12 to take on Western Illinois at 1 p.m.

--NIU--