To know women’s basketball in Illinois is to know that the two best women’s basketball teams in the state will be in the same gym Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

NIU (17-4, 9-0) travels to Northwestern (14-6, 7-4) in what may be one of the best games of the year. Both squads are coming off of conference victories and realize the importance of the local rivalry factor.

“They’re probably still embarrassed about last year,” NIU coach Jane Albright said. “We’ll be playing for pride as far as the best team in the state and the city rivalry.”

Last season, NIU blasted Northwestern out of Chick Evans Field House with a decisive 99-74 victory that had Northwestern coach Don Perrelli shaking his head.

“It was like being taken in an alley and getting totally beaten up.”

Those were Perrelli’s parting comments after last season’s drubbing.

Provided this season pits two different teams, the Wildcats will be looking for some revenge. Northwestern was picked to win the Big Ten conference this season, but a couple of mid-season injuries have dampered its hopes. The Wildcats are ranked No. 19 in the nation, while NIU stands at No. 33.

Albright expressed concern about her team’s intensity level during Saturday’s 79-62 win over Akron, but ruled out any such problems for this game.

“I don’t think we’ll have any trouble,” Albright said. “This is kind of like the DePaul games.”

NIU will be gunning for its 11th-straight victory and first over a Big Ten school this season.