Just one week remains in the Big Ten regular season. There are just two games left to improve their seeding for the Big Ten Tournament and impress the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

No. 5 Purdue has locked up the No. 1 seed for the Big Ten Tournament, to be held in Grand Rapids, Mich. No. 25 Iowa, No. 21 Wisconsin and No. 18 Penn State are all tied for second place in the conference with 10-4 marks. Michigan leads Illinois and Indiana by a half game for the fifth spot, the last to get a first-round bye in the tournament.

"I think it (the conference tournament) will be incredibly interesting because of the way it played out this year," Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland said.

Player of the week, again

For the third time in her freshman campaign, Lady Lion guard Kelly Mazzante was named player of the week.

Last week, Mazzante scored 38 points and rewrote six Penn State records in a 101-80 victory against Illinois. She then scored 17 at Wisconsin in the Lions 11-point loss.

"We're very pleased with Kelly getting the third time player of the week," Portland said. "She's certainly catching everyone's eye."

Mazzante is leading the conference in scoring, averaging 19 points per game. She is also tops in the conference in three pointers made.

"I think I'm very fortunate to have a chance to score with Lisa (Shepherd) in our offense," Mazzante said. "It's a little surprise to me. My main goal was to come here and become an impact player.

"I don't think I expected this."

Mazzante and Indiana's Jill Chapman are the only Big Ten players to be named player of the week three times this season.

A banner year

With its 96-43 win against Minnesota in West Lafayette, Ind., Purdue clinched the 2001 Big Ten regular season championship. The Boilermakers have suffered just one conference loss, at the hands of Iowa, while amassing 14 wins.

"It was definitely a very special week for our team and our program last week," Purdue head coach Kristy Curry said. "It was certainly one I'll always remember."

Boilermakers senior All-American candidate Katie Douglas scored 21 points in the victory. Douglas is part of a senior class that will be the winningest class in Big Ten history with a win at Penn State on Thursday. They have a 104-23 record in their four seasons as Boilermakers, winning three Big Ten tournament titles and the 1999 NCAA National Championship.

Quote of the week

"All we can control is what we can control. . .whatever happens after that would happen."

— Curry on whether her squad deserves a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament