The Chicago Bears vs. the Green Bay Packers, Army Vs. Navy, Navratilova vs. Evert—NIU Vs. DePaul?

Maybe the latter match up cannot be found among the premiere rivalries in sports, but the NIU women’s basketball team is looking to stage a classic battle against the Blue Demons tonight on the hardwood of Chick Evans Field House come 7:00.

Huskie head coach Jane Albright knows the deck will be stacked in this evening’s contest. However, the fifth-year boss is counting on an advantage—a sixth player.

“DePaul measures up against us in every aspect except one. We have the home-court advantage,” said an optimistic Albright. “We need to get a lot of spirited fans like the ones from Stevenson North to fill the fieldhouse. That would help.”

Well, what does this fired-up Huskie team have to offer its fans? For starters, NIU boasts a seven-game winning streak and an undefeated mark at home (5-0). The Huskies also are demonstrating some potent offense led by junior Carol Owens. NIU ranks 7th in nation in scoring (87 points per game).

Albright also takes pride in her team’s two tournament championships: the NIU Fastbreak Fest, where the Huskies upset natonally ranked North Carolina State, and the New Orleans Holiday Tournament. Victories over Big Ten opponents Illinois and Minnesota have contributed to NIU’s 11-3 overall record.

“Jane is doing a super job at Northern. She has one of the best teams in the Midwest,” said DePaul head coach Doug Bruno about an NIU team bordering on Top 20 national ranking. “She (Albright) goes out and schedules tough teams, so her record stands tall.”

Bruno also took note of the Huskies’ 6-3 center Owens, who is leading the team in both scoring (21.2 ppg) and rebounds (10.6 rpg).

“I can’t say enough about Carol Owens,” Bruno said. “We (DePaul) have played against top teams like Auburn and Louisiana Tech, and Carol is in that type of class.”

But the Huskies are not a one-player team. Tammy Hinchee, Gena Stubbs, Denise Dove and Kris Weis all join Owens to comprise what is starting to be known as the “Iron Five” because of an injury-depleted bench.

On the flipside, Albright knows that NIU has to keep an eye out for DePaul’s basketball machine—Diana Vines. The 5-10 senior poses the biggest threat to the Huskies with her 23.9 ppg and 9.8 rpg. Vines has led the Blue Demons to two-consecutive North Star Conference Championships.

If the Blue Demons have problems scoring on the inside, they can go outside with junior Melanee Ehrhardt. The 5-8 guard regularly ices shots from outside, while averaging 14 ppg.

NIU has its own answer to DePaul’s Ehrhardt. The Huskies’ point guard Dove has established her comfort zone from beyond the 19-foot-9-inch arc. The Minnesota native has been successful 45 out of the 88 times she has put the ball up from long distance (a 51 percent average).

The winner of this evening’s game will earn first-place honors in the NSC. The Huskies have a 2-0 record in the conference with victories over Akron (79-46) and Cleveland State (83-49). However, DePaul will be the first true test of basketball power the Huskies have faced in the NSC.

The Blue Demons sport a 7-3 overall ledger and stand 1-0 in the NSC heading into tonight’s showdown.