Jackie Donovan remembers describing her nephew to her teammates on the women's basketball team two days ago. He has a funny personality. One second he can be in a good mood, but turn around and you meet Mr. Hyde. That's when one of her teammates told her it runs in the family.

"I'm not wild, out of control," Donovan said. Wild and out of control like some of her teammates when the Lady Lions go to a restaurant. "Sometimes they'll all start singing and dancing. I'll just sit back, watch and laugh."

A quiet, unassuming leader, senior co-captain Donovan is watching her Lady Lion career come full circle. It was in 1990 when she debuted on a team that earned a No. 1 ranking at the end of the regular season. The only other time the Lady Lions earned that ranking was earlier this season.

"Sometimes I think she carries the weight of the team on her shoulders," Coach Rene Portland said.

Her shoulders are doing just fine. While Donovan may be a role model for her teammates, she still learns from the freshmen. Off the court, she is laid-back. Unassuming. Waiting for things to happen. That philosophy changes as soon as she steps on the hardwood floor.

"I become more aggressive," the guard said. "I have to make things happen -- going after loose balls, taking chances for rebounds, going in there against taller opponents."

Simply becoming a smarter player. During her sophomore year, Donovan led the team in fouls with 64. She laughs recalling her former nickname, "Jack the Hack."

"It fit perfect. Rene would say, 'Jack it in,' " Donovan said. "She has a two-foul rule. In the first half, you get two fouls, you're out. It didn't take me too long to get two fouls."

It is a name she doesn't miss. Just like she doesn't miss three-point shots -- Donovan has sunk 48 treys this season alone, bringing her career total to 77. It is a shot with which she has a unique relationship.

"I have the green light to take it," she said. "When you hit a three-pointer and Rec Hall just goes berserk, you get goose bumps."

It is skills like this that make the Stratford, N.J., native known nationwide.

"I think the key is Donovan," Wisconsin Coach Mary Murphy said of the Lady Lions. "She's sort of the intangible player on that team that really makes things happen."

But Donovan said she and co-captian Helen Holloway compliment each other. Roommates and friends, the two have led the team to a share of the Big Ten title this season.

"Jackie just leads by example," Holloway said. "She just goes out there, hustles. She doesn't say it, but from the way she works, it's like, 'Do as I do.' "

And while Donovan said they want to choke each other at times, she wouldn't have it any other way. As for the future, coaching kids is the one thing of which she is certain. But asking Donovan what the rest of life holds provokes a most profound response.

"Ugh," she mutters with convincing emotion. "Give me two weeks and I'll let you know."