They can see it looming on the horizon. Just four games stand between the Lady Lions and a women's basketball conference championship -- and four victories would give Penn State its fourth Big Ten title this year.

It was in the fall of 1993 when the field hockey, men's soccer and women's volleyball teams struck glory. Junior guard Katina Mack said that provides incentive to do the same. She and her teammates would like nothing more than to add to that list of champions.

"When you look at that -- Penn State has some great teams," said Mack, who was to test her sprained ankle in practice yesterday. "We have some great athletes that can go out and win titles like that. I feel great to be part of that tradition."

The biggest obstacle is No. 14 Iowa (18-5), who the Lady Lions (22-1) will clash with at 7:30 p.m. today in Iowa City. Penn State will have to control senior forward Necole Tunsil, who ran away with 28 points to lead all scorers in their last outing.

"(We) have to make a few changes," Mack said. "We played against her, we know what she's best at doing -- putting it on the floor and pulling it up. You've got to take that away from her, make her catch and shoot, just contain her, really."

Iowa Coach C. Vivian Stringer said limiting Lady Lion free throws is crucial. Whether the Hawkeyes can do that depends on senior center Cathy Marx. The last time the teams met, Marx played only five minutes in the first half.

"She deserved the fouls," Stringer said. "We are trying to figure out how we can keep her in the game, let her do some damage and still control the rest of the people."

She added if the Hawkeyes could go to the line as many times as Penn State -- or an amount "considered reasonable" -- she would be happy.

"We are as quick as any team," Stringer said. "Sometimes that quickness will hurt you. Part of Penn State's success is going to the free-throw line. They are extremely well-coached."

The Lady Lions currently sit atop the conference with a 13-1 record. Purdue is second at 13-2 with Iowa the only other contender at 11-4. If Penn State wins its next four games, the title is theirs. Simple, right?

"You can never say you'll be home free," Mack said, "but it will be a lot off our shoulders to get off this away trip."

Also ahead for the Lady Lions: Minnesota (15-8, 8-6) at 2 p.m. Sunday in Minneapolis, Illinois (8-15, 3-11) at 7:30 p.m. on March 10 in Rec Hall, and Northwestern (14-9, 6-8) at 2 p.m. on March 12 in Rec Hall.

The Lady Lions defeated all four of these teams earlier in the season, the closest contest being the 63-61 triumph against Iowa. Penn State handed the Wildcats an 80-63 defeat, the Fighting Illini an 86-57 loss, and held on 87-77 over the Golden Gophers.