One of the most influential athletic moves concerning the NIU women’s basketball program came back in 1985-86 when all of NIU’s sports withdrew from the Mid-American Conference.

In those days, the talk around Chick Evans Field House was strictly about dunk-master Kenny Battle on the men’s side.

Current NIU coach Jane Albright had only been a coach at NIU for two seasons, yet felt the ill effects of Battle and the attention surrounding the men’s team, especially during doubleheaders.

“When Kenny Battle was playing, the place would be packed to see him play,” Albright recalls. “Then we’d run out on the court and everybody but a hundred people would leave.”

With Albright trying to establish an identity for the women’s program, the conference affiliation with the men’s squad seemed futile.

That’s when NIU made the withdrawal to independence. A year later (1987-88), the Huskies became part of the North Star Conference, an all-women’s conference.

After three seasons in the conference, Albright and the Huskies were making immense strides. NIU shared the 1988-89 regular season honors and claimed both the regular season and postseason crowns for 1989-90.

And the NCAA rewarded the conference for its steps towards eliteness with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament starting this season. But, it may be all for naught.

Starting in 1992, the women’s team will join the Mid-Continent Conference, the same league that the men’s team resides in. Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois, Akron, UIC, Valparaiso, Wisconsin Green-Bay, Cleveland State and NIU will comprise the women’s side.

Even though Albright and Co. have established a national identity, a combine with the men’s program might shadow the women’s program.

“I don’t think it affects us that much,” Albright said. “We still have a strong national schedule outside of the conference. I really liked having the NSC, so I don’t know if it will be better or worse.”

Albright shedded bitterness if the automatic bid isn’t extended to the Mid-Continent.

“If that’s the case,” Albright said, “I hate this move. My main concern is getting an automatic bid. We’ve worked very hard to get a bid and to think we might have to start over again will be frustrating.”

As far as her team playing before or after the men, Albright feels there are no advantages to a twin-bill of basketball.

“I hate double-headers,” Albright stressed. “Basketball isn’t made to watch for four hours at a time. Besides we have our own identity and don’t necessarily want a piggyback.”

Albright thinks the key to success in the Mid-Continent will be much of the same ingredients needed to thrive in the NSC.

“So many positive things could come out of this, but if they don’t we could be in a bind,” Albright admitted. “We’re just going to have to continue to play a strong national schedule.”