Hangin’ tough.

Going up against a Florida State team that knows what toughness is night in and night out in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Jane Albright-Dieterle’s crew knew it couldn’t let down for even one possession Tuesday night.

“It’s not a fly-by-night thing, this is for real,” commented Albright-Dieterle on what the matchup with the Lady Seminoles meant for her No. 22 unit. “It was a 40-minute game of every possession.”

Even though each possession was not a sight to behold, the desire to keep up the intensity each trip—offensively and defensively—would ultimately lead to another Huskie triumph, this one even more fulfilling because it avenged last year’s 25-point defeat in Florida.

“We had a true team here (last night),” said Albright-Dieterle on the difference in outcome from a season ago. “Every possession we competed with them (and) matched up with them at every position …

“We’re more mature than we were. We’ve got our mind on a vision, and we know what we’ve got to do to get there.”

To get the job done against the Lady Seminoles, NIU knew it had to counter their exceptional shooting game.

The Huskies may have entered the contest at a 43-percent

season clip from the field, but in the end, that number took a climb as they nailed a season-best 55 percent (33-60) of their shots.

Credit exceptional insight on NIU’s part for achieving that and the victory, according to FSU head coach Marynell Meadors.

“(NIU) played very well as a team,” Meadors said. “They were well-prepared for us …

“Northern Illinois played exceptionally well, offensively and defensively. And they’re big and they outrebounded us (37-36).”