Women's Basketball | January 3
DeKALB, IL – Winners of three consecutive games, the Northern Illinois University women's basketball team takes the floor at the NIU Convocation Center for the first time in the 2025 calendar year on Saturday to take on the Ohio Bobcats at 1 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to wear red to "Red Out" the Convocation Center on Saturday. Tickets are on sale now at NIUHuskies.com and by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at (815) 753-PACK (7225). Saturday's game is 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.
Saturday's game will be telecast on ESPN+ with the audio broadcast on NIUHuskies.com.
NIU (7-5, 1-0 MAC) opened Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday afternoon with a 59-58 win at Toledo, snapping the Rockets' 20-game home winning streak at Savage Arena. The Huskies shot 39.3 percent from the field and was 6-for-11 from the three-point arc. NIU held Toledo to 17.4 percent from long range and scored 14 points off 12 Toledo turnovers. It was the first time since 2019 that the Huskies won their conference opener.
The Huskies are fifth in the nation in three-point percentage at 39.7 percent. NIU was 6-for-11 from long range in Wednesday's win over Toledo, holding the Rockets to 4-for-23 from the three-point arc. The Huskies are a combined 19-for-34 from the three-point line over the last two games.
Chelby Koker (Racine, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) led NIU with 16 points at Toledo, adding five rebounds and a game-high five assists. It was her fourth game this season with at least 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. Koker is fourth in the MAC with 5.0 assists per game and is also fourth in the league in free throw percentage at 83.9 percent. Over the last five games Koker is averaging 11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
Ohio (2-9, 0-1 MAC) was picked sixth in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll along with NIU. The Bobcats lost their conference opener on Wednesday 74-61 to Akron at Ohio's Convocation Center. Sophomore guard Bailey Tabeling led the Bobcats with 19 points and six assists. Tabeling, an All-MAC Freshman Team selection last season, is averaging 11.5 points per game and leads Ohio with 23 three-pointers. Kennedi Watkins leads the Bobcats in scoring at 14.7 points per game.
NIU won last season's meeting in Athens 67-62 and has won four of the last five games against the Bobcats.
The Huskies go on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 8 for a 5 p.m. CT matchup at Akron.
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