With the 112-64 destruction of the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers, the NIU women’s basketball team sent a simple, but sincere message to the visitors: Welcome to Division I basketball.

In its first season at the elite level, UW-M has already experienced some growing pains. The Panthers came into the game with an 8-11 record, but were winners in five of their last six outings. The Division I ride seemed to be getting smoother as the season progressed—that is until it crashed in DeKalb.

NIU put on an up-tempo display that had the Panthers hanging their heads midway through the first half. NIU coasted to a 52-22 intermission advantage. And the 112 point total ranks the fourth-highest scoring output in history for NIU’s women.

Ten Huskies scored. Five of them in double figures and only two under the 50 percent shooting mark for the evening. So much for letdowns after last Thursday’s heart-stopping 81-80 win over another Wisconsin team, Green Bay.

If for no other apparent reason, Milwaukee traveled two-and-one-half hours to see that NIU is not only a much superior team now, but for years to come.

Freshman Angela Lockett, “the blue-collar of blue-collars,” according to NIU coach Jane Albright, muscled her way to an impressive double-double. Lockett scored a career-high 21 points and ripped down 13 rebounds.

Debbie Teske, labeled a sophomore due to NCAA transfer rules, came off the bench in relief of Lisa Foss to score 12 points and add four assists.

Sophomore Dianna Wingis led the team with a couple of blocks. And she added eight points and eight rebounds. Junior Dee Dee Jeske notched 14 points and seven boards. Denise Lipnisky scored a season-high four points. And even sophomore Julie Gainer got on the board for the first time this season with a free throw point.

Moral of the game: Division I rookies ought to schedule away from established veterans like the NIU Huskies.