DeKALB – Kathi Bennett had just watched her vision take life for two hours on the Convocation Center court.

DeKALB – Its lead had almost evaporated, its shots weren't falling and, for one of the only times Saturday afternoon, Northern Illinois was in trouble.

DeKALB – When Mark Montgomery was hired as the Northern Illinois men’s basketball coach last spring, the first player many fans thought of was Tim Toler.

AKRON, Ohio – The Northern Illinois women's basketball team ended a six-year drought at Akron with a 72-66 victory Wednesday at Rhodes Arena.

DEKALB – The momentum is gone for the Northern Illinois women’s basketball team.

Looking at the rebuilding process at NIU

NIU win comes with much relief

DeKALB – Close is good. Close means improvement, the ability to be competitive. It signifies a potentially better future.

Trailing by 12 at halftime, the Northern Illinois women’s basketball team came all the way back to grab a late lead but could not hang on as Ball State won, 50-43, at Worthen Arena on Wednesday night.

The Northern Illinois women’s basketball team’s third bid for a three-game winning streak came up short against Eastern Illinois, 72-62, on Thursday night at Lantz Arena.  The setback came due large in part to the Panthers’ opportunistic defense and sound offensive rebounding.

DeKALB – Amanda Corral never had asked Northern Illinois women’s basketball coach Kathi Bennett to take her off the court. The freshman guard practices like a “mad woman,” Bennett said. Her energy, intensity and hustle are helping the Huskies define their identity.

Year-old knee injury hasn't hampered Corral's freshman season

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Courtney Shelton had been feeling it all night, and she felt it when it mattered most, nailing the game-winning three-pointer from the left wing with nine seconds left to give Northern Illinois a 60-59 win over Indiana at Assembly Hall on Saturday night. The victory gave NIU its first against a Big Ten opponent since 2006.

Northern Illinois women’s basketball players know their coach, Kathi Bennett, used to be the head coach at Indiana.

DeKALB – Kathi Bennett had every reason for confidence.

DeKALB – The Northern Illinois women’s basketball team closed out an up-and-down November with a 53-50 win over Southern Illinois on Tuesday night at the Convocation Center.

DeKALB – Both of the Northern Illinois basketball teams came into Sunday searching for improvement.

DeKALB – The look was astonishment mixed with a bit of curiosity. NIU’s best, pure post player, freshman Keith Gray, had just picked up his fifth foul on a regrettable decision – a charge near the basket with 4:15 left.

NIU beats Western Illinois, 91-84

The Northern Illinois women’s basketball team dropped its season opener to Loyola, 73-42, Sunday at North Park Gym.

Step inside our 2011-12 basketball preview

Northern Illinois’ men’s and women’s basketball seasons are upon us, with the men starting their regular season tonight and the women’s season getting under way Sunday. Here are a few things to watch for the upcoming seasons:

Daily Chronicle sports editor John Sahly and sports reporter Ryan Wood spend their days covering the area’s sports scene. Occasionally, they give their viewpoints on those local sports. In this installment of their 2011 Take 2 column, they discuss Northern Illinois upcoming men’s and women’s basketball seasons.

DeKALB – Those who hadn’t left the court congregated at one end. Practice was over. Time to relax, chat, wait for another day.

The Northern Illinois women’s basketball program received three National Letters of Intent for the 2012-13 season on Wednesday’s signing day from forward McKenzie Hoelmenn, guard Alexis Lindstrom, and forward Nichole Wittman.

In its lone exhibition contest of the 2011-12 season, the Northern Illinois women’s basketball team fell to Indiana Wesleyan 61-52 Tuesday night at the NIU Convocation Center. 

The Northern Illinois women's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches and select members of the media, released Tuesday.

MAC to discuss NCAA board's approvals

INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA is giving college sports a whole new look.

DeKALB – Kathi Bennett looked at the tape.

Northern Illinois athletics ranks among the top universities in the Mid-American Conference, and has once again topped the national average in the Graduation Success Rate of its student-athletes, according to data released Wednesday by the NCAA.

Mark Montgomery and Kathi Bennett – along with some of their players – gave their season outlook during Tuesday afternoon's media day at the Convocation Center. Here are some notes on both programs.

WASHINGTON – NCAA President Mark Emmert backed a proposal to allow conferences to increase grants to student athletes by $2,000, "to more closely approach" the full cost of attending college, beyond the athletic scholarships athletes receive for tuition, fees, room, board and books.

More than 300 major college football and men's basketball players are telling the NCAA and college presidents they want a cut of ever-increasing TV sports revenue to fatten scholarships and cover all the costs of getting a degree, with athletes picking up still more grant money when they graduate.

DEKALB – With basketball season right around the corner, the Northern Illinois Athletics Department announced ticket price information and game times for the 2011-12 season of Huskie men’s and women’s basketball.

Northern Illinois women’s basketball team’s upcoming recruiting class expanded to three when Hutchinson (Minn.) High forward Nicole Wittman announced her verbal commitment to the Huskies on Friday afternoon.

Former Northern Illinois women’s basketball players Ebony Ellis and Marke Freeman recently signed professional contracts to play in the PLKK, a Polish basketball league.  

Northern Illinois athletics announced the latest additions to its Hall of Fame on Friday. Four individuals, one team and one family make up the 2011 Hall of Fame class, set to be inducted Oct. 7.

DeKALB – Mark Montgomery easily determined how to successfully navigate his first schedule as Northern Illinois men’s basketball coach.

This is progress.

Top two seeds get byes to semifinals

Calling it an effort by members of the Mid-American Conference to "challenge the status quo," Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher announced Thursday dramatic changes to the men's and women's MAC basketball tournament, effective for the upcoming season.

INDIANAPOLIS – NCAA President Mark Emmert wants to cash in on the appetite for change that has been sweeping through major college athletics.

DeKALB – There isn’t one play that sticks out in Jenna Throp’s mind. She can’t recall the moment she felt normal. For her, the healing process was gradual.

Northern Illinois women’s basketball coach Kathi Bennett announced the return of a pair of former Huskies to the program’s coaching staff Tuesday. Assistant coach Shannon Baugh and graduate assistant Stephanie Smith join Bennett’s staff for the 2011-12 season.

Relevant observations, pertinent notes, questions, minutiae and Huskie Trivial Pursuit from your local sports information director:

That Lisa Foss made the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame was no surprise.

NIU coach looks back on her first season, talks about what future could hold.

DeKALB – When Ohio coach Semeka Randall asked her players to list their keys to beating Northern Illinois, there was no disagreement about their top priority.

Marke Freeman blocked a potentially game-tying three-pointer by Ty’ronda Benning at the buzzer, securing a 49-46 win for the Northern Illinois women’s basketball team over Ball State on Wednesday at Worthern Arena.