DePaul University officially announced its departure from the North Star Conference to form the Great Midwest Conference Thursday during a press conference at the Chicago Athletic Club.

“It’s official,” DePaul Associate Athletics Director, Jean

nsetto said. “DePaul, Marquette, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Memphis State and UAB (Alabama-Birmingham) have formed the new Great Midwest Conference.”

The new all-sport (non-football) Great Midwest will start conference play during the 1991-92 season. The proclamation severs the intense competition between NIU’s and DePaul’s women’s athletic teams. Particularly, the women’s basketball rivalries within the eight-year old NSC.

“It was a very difficult decision for the women’s coaching staff,” Ponsetto said. “But, being sensitive to the men’s program (which has been independent for 92 years), it is seemingly the best way to remedy the problem.”

NIU and the Blue Demons, guardians of the NSC title for the past three years, drew Illinois State attendance records for women’s collegiate basketball for both battles last season. At Alumni Hall, 4,294 people rooted on the perennial NSC powers. Then, 6,118 fans erased that mark as they witnessed NIU capture the NSC crown at Chick Evans Field House.

“The rivalry between Northern Illinois and DePaul is a healthy one,” Ponsetto said. “It is our intention to continue to play NIU twice a year.”

Both the Huskies and DePaul received at-large bids to 1990’s NCAA Tournament. The two-team representation prompted NCAA officials to award the NSC with an automatic bid to the 1991 NCAA Championships. The automatic bid could keep the NSC alive once DePaul departs, since only 22 automatics are awarded among the 32 conferences.

“The North Star Conference has emerged as one of the best conferences in the country,” Doug Bruno, DePaul’s head coach said. “We feel very proud having been a part of that growth.”

As former commissioner of the NSC (1987-89), Ponsetto displayed mixed emotions about the move.

“Personally, I’m disappointed,” Ponsetto said. “We’ve enjoyed the relationship with Northern Illinois and the other members of the NSC. If (the decision) was left up to the women coaches, it would not have happened, but we’re looking at the whole program.”

Not only will the basketball teams be affected, but the conference rivalries between the NIU and DePaul volleyball, softball and tennis teams will also come to a halt.