Expect the NIU women’s basketball team to make a major jump when the new AP Poll is released Tuesday.

Considering the Huskies perfect 5-0 mark, it is a legitimate enough reason to propel the currently 26th-ranked NIU into the Top-20. This isn’t just because their record is unblemished, but rather the competition NIU has knocked off.

Let’s start with the University of Washington. The 13th-ranked Huskys came to NIU with aspirations of returning to the West Coast with the NIU/Contel Fastbreak Fest crown. And they had good reason to breed confidence.

UW opened the tournament up with a contest against the University of Maryland, ranked No. 18. A win over the Terrapins meant a championship game with either Western Michigan (1-3) or the home team, NIU (ranked 26th in the same AP Poll).

The latter prevailed and the dogfight sent stinging results throughout the basketball world. NIU stunned Washington by an 82-75 tally and claimed only its second trophy in eight attempts at the Fastbreak Fest.

“It was a real emotional and physical weekend,” NIU coach Jane Albright said. “It was the greatest field of teams that we’ve ever had, so to win (the tournament) makes it real special.”

As NIU knocked off UW, they also made strides of moving ahead of Maryland. The Terrapins lost to unranked Richmond the Wednesday before the Fastbreak Fest, then they fell to UW. Two losses in four days should allow NIU to climb past the ‘Terps.

How about NIU’s pre-tournament 77-71 overtime win at Southern Illinois University last Wednesday. Although SIU was ranked five teams behind NIU, a first-ever win in the Salukis’ gym for Albright and Co. boosted the Huskies’ confidence threefold.

Wins over South Alabama (75-71) and Central Florida (99-61) on the road also signify a poised NIU team that’s worthy of early- season recognition. As far as Albright’s concerned, the Huskies do deserve a spot among the country’s best even this early in the season.

“I’m interested to see what kind of respect we’ll get in the polls,” Albright said. “I definitely voted for us to be in the Top-20.”

NIU’s best-ever showing in the polls came last season when the Huskies checked in at No. 17 in the final AP Poll.