DePaul University’s sudden announcement Thursday that its women’s basketball program would leave the North Star Conference after the 1990-91 season has done little to diffuse the rivalry between DePaul and NIU.

According to NIU women’s basketball coach Jane Albright, the rivalry with DePaul isn’t based on the fact that the two teams share the same conference.

“The rivalry came about just because DePaul is DePaul,” Albright said. “This rivalry is the strongest in women’s basketball today.”

Last season against the Blue Demons, the Huskies broke the record for the largest crowd to attend a women’s collegiate basketball game in the state of Illinois.

That game marked the pinnacle of the rivalry, but according to Albright there will be more memorable encounters to come.

“DePaul is leaving the conference, but we will still play them twice a year,” said Albright. “We’ll want to win more than ever.”