Remember those lopsided scores the NIU women’s basketball team compiled just one season ago … NIU 122, Valparaiso 86; NIU 108, Akron 78; NIU 96, Cleveland State 48, etc.

Well, forget ‘em. The North Star Conference won’t have very many blowouts during the 1991 season. And the reasoning is fairly simple. NIU’s opponents have climbed the experience ladder.

“When our players were in their senior years, we blew people out—like Tammy Hinchee and Carol Owens,” NIU coach Jane Albright said. “Now, all of the teams are starting to get a little older.”

Most notably is the team from Valparaiso. Just last weekend, the Crusaders battled with DePaul until the buzzer sounded, only to come up on the short side of a 96-95 score. Considering that the Huskies scored 76 points in the first half (2-20-90) versus the Crusaders last season, Valpo is much improved.

In NIU’s two conference victories thus far this year, which came against Cleveland State (72-63) and Akron (78-51), the Huskies have won by a combined total of 26 points.

“Us beating Cleveland State by only nine points shows the closeness in the conference,” Albright said. “That just shows there is a lot more talent in the conference.”

Despite the Huskies unblemished 2-0 record in the NSC, Albright expects the extension of their 17-game NSC winning streak to be difficult. NIU still has to square off with always-tough DePaul, stingy Wisconsin-Green Bay and those Crusaders.

“I expect our games to be very good ones,” Albright said. “But, I think we are as ready as we’ve been to defend our title.”