Jamie Lewis is in some pretty impressive company.

Ohio State's senior point guard is carrying the torch for a Buckeye program that has produced several outstanding guards over the years, among them former Buckeye and current WNBA star Katie Smith, whose name is at the top of nearly every Ohio State career record.

Lewis will put her own name in the history books very soon. Heading into tonight's game against Penn State, she needs just 15 assists to become the school's all-time leader.

"That's unbelievable when you consider some of the guards that have played here," Ohio State women's basketball coach Beth Burns said.

Lewis, who passed Smith on the career assist chart earlier this season, stands at 548, just 14 behind former OSU great Yvette Angel.

The Buckeyes came charging out of the gate this season, starting 10-0, but have struggled since entering conference play, due in large part to the loss of leading scorer LaToya Turner, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament in a Jan. 4 loss to Michigan State.

In addition, Lewis, who suffered a torn ACL of her own a year ago, is one of just two healthy seniors on what is suddenly a young, injury-depleted Ohio State roster.

However, the senior from Oak Hill, Ohio has been one of the few bright spots on a team that has lost six of its last nine contests. She spends a team-high 34 minutes per game on the floor, and can shoot it as well as pass it, putting up 11.3 points per contest.

"I think Jamie Lewis is a tremendous leader for them," said Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland.

A month ago in Columbus, Portland got a firsthand look at Lewis' leadership capabilities. She scored 13 points, shot 3-8 from behind the three-point line, tallied seven assists and played all 40 minutes as the Buckeyes nearly upset the then-No. 11 Lady Lions, falling 66-63.

A four-year starter, Lewis has led her team in assists in for each of her first three seasons, and she seems in no danger of failing to keep that streak alive. She leads the Big Ten in assists this season, averaging 8.5 per game.

Whether it happens tonight or not, the player who has made a career out of spreading the ball around will soon be finding some much-deserved accolades passed her way.