Lady Lions need big win

What a long, strange trip it's been.

With two more games before the Big Ten tournament, Penn State (13-11, 6-8 Big Ten) will be trying to end the regular season on a good note as it hosts No. 19 Michigan State at 7:30 p.m. today and Wisconsin at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Bryce Jordan Center.

With the Spartans (19-5, 11-3 Big Ten) on a roll and in a first-place tie in the Big Ten, the Lady Lions have their work cut out for them. But Michigan State coach Karen Langeland was quick to point out there is no sure thing in the Big Ten this season, and every game is up for grabs.

"A few years ago, you'd look at the schedule and know who the winners were going to be," she said. "This year, there's so much parity. Anybody can beat anybody, and anybody can lose."

Wisconsin (16-8, 8-6 Big Ten) was ranked as high as No. 16 this season, but a four-game losing streak knocked the Badgers out of the polls. With a close win over Iowa last weekend, Wisconsin is trying to get back on track for the Big Ten tournament.

"It's important to get some momentum," Wisconsin coach Jane Albright-Dieterle said. "You don't want to have a horrible weekend because you don't have much time to recover."

Penn State will try to bounce back from a pair of losses to Iowa and Michigan last weekend. For seniors Angie Potthoff and Tiffany Longworth, the weekend has even more meaning as they prepare to play their last games in the center.

"It's an emotional week for me," Potthoff said. "We're pulling together as a team. So many people have gotten better."

Both Michigan State and Wisconsin know they have to stop Potthoff if they want to stop Penn State. But the forward is averaging 19.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, so shutting Potthoff down is virtually impossible.

"I can't think of anything harder than being in Angie Potthoff's gym on her senior day," Albright-Dieterle said. "We just have to keep fresh people on her. She's tough."

With the memory of a 99-75 humiliation earlier this season at the hands of the Spartans on their minds, the Lady Lions will focus on playing tough defense against a Michigan State team that often has four players scoring in double digits.

"Our defense will be challenged. We'll see if we're up to the challenge," Portland said. "We need to challenge every shot. Our defense has been horrendous."

Coming back to help the depleted Lady Lions will be junior center Em Clements. She should see some time this weekend after being sidelined since a stress fracture was discovered in her right foot Jan. 24.