The women's basketball team will be without its premier scoring threat for two Big Ten road games this weekend.

Originally, Angie Potthoff was scheduled to play against Northwestern on Sunday, but Coach Rene Portland said yesterday that the team's leading scorer will be absent from the lineup this weekend.

Penn State will play Michigan (8-13, 3-8 Big Ten) at 7:30 p.m. today in Ann Arbor, Mich. After the clash with the Wolverines, the No. 13 Lady Lions (16-4, 7-3) will travel to Evanston, Ill., for a 7 p.m. game with Northwestern (9-12, 5-6).

Following Sunday's 57-43 loss at No. 17 Purdue, Portland decided not to allow Potthoff to practice this weekend or participate in the Michigan game because the sophomore is suffering from exhaustion. But there was still a chance that Portland's 6-foot-1 forward might be able to play in Sunday's game at Northwestern.

"Angie said (yesterday), 'Will you fly me (to Northwestern) so I can play on Sunday?' " Portland said. "When I told her no, she just couldn't believe it. I said, 'Your teammates should be able to carry you for these two games.' "

Portland also said yesterday that point guard Tina Nicholson was diagnosed with strep throat earlier this week. But Portland added that the team's 5-foot-3 co-captain is expected to play in both games.

Despite the rash of recent setbacks, Penn State guard Carla Coleman said the team remains "upbeat."

"You really just have to regroup," the senior said, "and that's what everyone is thinking. Everyone on our team needs to know that they have the ability to step up. It's going to take everyone for this weekend -- not just the starters."

Portland said 6-foot-1 senior Shelby Thayer will be one of those players looked upon to step up and give Penn State ample minutes.

Michigan will try to take advantage of the Lady Lions' setbacks --especially the absence of Potthoff -- and stage the upset. The Wolverines are coming off a 74-69 victory at Illinois.

"With the offense Angie gives them, they'll miss that," Michigan Coach Trish Roberts. "Hopefully, we can capitalize on that."

Meanwhile, Northwestern will look to use its suffocating zone pressure to knock out the Lady Lions. Big Ten opponents have managed only a .399 percent success rate from the field, but the Wildcats have converted .471 percent of their shots in the conference.

However, Coleman said her teammates are up for the challenge this weekend.

"Everybody's well aware of the importance of this weekend," she said. "This is an even bigger weekend than last weekend. If we go 6-0, we can have a share of the Big Ten title or we can have it by ourselves."