Sports
Summer 2016
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Top 5 Sports Moments
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Did you miss any of the top sports events this year? Here are Summer Editor in Chief Chris Loggins’ five most exciting moments.
No. 1
Men’s basketball notched the No. 1 moment of the season for sports after it won its 18th game at the Convocation Center, finishing the season 18-1 on its home floor. The Huskies picked up the record-setting victory in a 56-50 win over Western Michigan University on March 7 in the first round of the MAC Tournament. NIU was led by senior guard Travon Baker, who scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds in his final home game, followed by freshman wing Levi Bradley, who scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. The win was part of a historic 2113 season for the Huskies, one of the team’s best seasons of all time.
No. 2
Senior softball catcher Emily Naegele picked up the No. 2 moment of the year after she broke the single-season NIU home run and RBI records. The senior finished her final season with 20 home runs, five more than junior first baseman Kayti Grable. She broke the record halfway through the season, continuing what was a historic year for her and helping NIU to a 35-20 season. In addition to setting a new home run record, Naegele also set a single-season NIU record for slugging percentage with .894, moved to fourth on the single season on base percentage list at .533 and broke her own record for RBIs in a single season with 56.
No. 3
Ally Lehman, junior women’s basketball guard, put on one of the most impressive performances in NIU history on Feb. 24. The junior scored an NIU record 41 points against Western Michigan University, 29 of which came in the second half. She also added 12 rebounds and three assists in the contest, going 12-19 from the field and 15-16 from the line, leading an 80-70 win.
No. 4
Baseball completed possibly the best comeback of the season for all sports after scoring seven runs and overcoming a six-run deficit to beat Valparaiso University on May 3. The Huskies trailed 10-4 heading into the ninth inning before battling back for their seventh consecutive victory of the year. They won after a walk-off single to left field with two outs from senior catcher Johnny Zubek. The comeback continued the longest win streak for NIU baseball since 1977 when the team rallied off 10 straight games.
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No. 5
Coming in at No. 5 on the top sports moments of the year is football sophomore cornerback Shawun Lurry, who led the nation in interceptions with nine. Lurry became one of the top players on the Huskies’ defense in 2015, managing to pick off passes in five straight games. His ninth interception of the year came on Dec. 4 in the MAC Championship against Bowling Green State University. The sophomore returned an interception for a touchdown in the Huskies’ 34-14 loss in the tournament.
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