DEKALB, Ill. – The close of January and beginning of February sees seven NIU Athletic teams in action, with five competing this week at home. NIU women's basketball plays a pair of home games this weekend, including an Education Day matinee on Wednesday. Men's basketball, gymnastics, men's tennis and women's tennis will also compete on campus this week. 

Men's Basketball
Tuesday, Jan. 27: vs. Western Michigan, 7 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Audio | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
Saturday, Jan. 31: at No. 24 Miami, 2:30 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Audio | Live Stats

The NIU men's basketball team plays its only home game in a stretch of four-of-five on the road on Tuesday night as the Huskies welcome Western Michigan to the NIU Convocation Center. NIU played its third consecutive game decided by five points or less on Saturday (Jan. 24) as the Huskies fell at Ball State, 58-53.

Following Tuesday's contest, NIU heads back on the road, beginning with a trip to 24th-ranked Miami on Saturday. The RedHawks are currently 20-0 and host UMass on Tuesday (Jan. 27) before hosting the Huskies.  

Women's Basketball
Wednesday, Jan. 28: vs. Miami, 11 a.m. – ESPN+ | Live Audio | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
Saturday, Jan. 31: vs. Central Michigan, 2 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Audio | Live Stats | Buy Tickets

The NIU women's basketball team hosts Miami and Central Michigan this week at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies take on the MAC-leading Miami RedHawks on Wednesday at 11 a.m. NIU shot a season-high 48.2 percent from the field last Saturday in a 72-62 loss at Eastern Michigan. Graduate guard Nadechka Laccen led the Huskies with 18 points. Freshmen Sa'Mahn Johnson and Emilie Sorensen scored 16 and 14 points respectively. It was the second time this season that duo both scored in double figures in the same game. 

Miami is in first place in the MAC at 8-0 after a 72-52 win at Ball State on Saturday. NIU hosts Central Michigan on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Chippewas won the first meeting between the two teams at McGuirk Arena on Dec. 20. A full preview of Saturday's game will be available on NIUHuskies.com later this week.

Gymnastics
Sunday, Feb. 1: vs. Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Stats

NIU gymnastics welcomes Wisconsin-La Crosse on Sunday for its second home meet of the 2026 season. The Huskies (1-3) fell to Ball State last weekend, 193.800-191.050. Dawsyn Sallee led the Huskies against the Cardinals, setting season highs on both vault and beam. The junior placed second on vault with a score of 9.825 and later finished with a 9.775 on beam.

Wisconsin-La Crosse defeated Simpson College last Saturday, 193.150-188.150. The Eagles have won all four events against their opponents in each of their last two meets.

Wrestling
Friday, Jan. 30: at Lock Haven, 1 p.m. – Live Video | Live Scoring

After three consecutive duals at home, the Huskies wrestling program sees their next three duals come on the road. The Huskies will travel to MAC East rival Lock Haven on Friday for a matinee dual. The Huskies and Eagles of Lock Haven have not met since the 2023-24 season, where the Huskies posed a 22-15 win in DeKalb.
 
Last time on the mat, the Huskies won a pair of close duals against Kent State and Ohio. NIU defeated Kent State ,19-17, before handing Ohio a 20-17 loss. Tommy Bennett had one of the biggest upsets as he defeated Ohio's Garrett Thompson at 174 pounds. Bennett posted a 6-5 decision win over No. 13/10 Thompson. Bennett was named the MAC West Co-Wrestler of the Week on January 27.
 
Blake West, Markel Baker, Charles Curtis, Brett Smith, and Devon Dawson went 2-0 in action in the duals.

Track and Field
Friday-Saturday, Jan. 30-31: at Meyo Classic (South Bend, Ind.) – Live Results

The NIU women's track and field team heads to Notre Dame this weekend to compete in the Meyo Classic. This will be the second competition of the season for the Huskies at Notre Dame. In December, Stella Oyebode won the 60-meters, Emma Curry was first in the 800 meters and Precious Umukoro claimed the triple jump title at Notre Dame's Blue & Gold Invitational. 

Arianna Calloway has won high jump titles in each of the last two weeks at the Bill Bergan Classic and the Fighting Illini Challenge. Calloway is currently ranked third in the high jump in the MAC this season. 

Competition this weekend begins at 3 p.m. CT on Friday with both field events and track qualifying heats. On Saturday, running resumes at 9 a.m. CT with the first field event on Saturday, the triple jump, slated to start at 10:30 a.m. CT. 

Men's Tennis
Saturday, Jan. 31: vs. Xavier, 2 p.m.

The NIU men's tennis team notched two wins in its opening weekend of the season, knocking off IU Indy and Illinois State at home. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia went 2-0 in both singles and doubles at No. 1 for the Huskies. On Saturday, Chiao Bo Suo Nan clinched the match point over Illinois State to seal the 4-3 victory.

Xaiver (0-3) last played Louisville on the road on Jan. 21, falling 5-0.

Women's Tennis
Friday, Jan. 30: at Butler, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 31: vs. Minnesota, 6 p.m.

NIU women's tennis extended its winning streak to four with a pair of wins over the weekend. The Huskies defeated both Marquette and Valparaiso by a score of 6-1. Malika Kabdesh and Nataly Ninova went 2-0 in doubles on the top court for NIU. Lucia Yecora recorded two singles victories and is 4-1 in the dual season.

Butler (2-2) comes to DeKalb following a 4-3 win over Bradley. Minnesota (2-0) will face Western Michigan at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House at 9 a.m. for a neutral site match prior to its match against NIU on Saturday evening.