Kathi Bennett thought her team played well enough to win last night.

She also felt that the reason her team did not come away with the win was the play of Penn State sophomore guard Kelly Mazzante.

"She's a special player," said the Indiana women's basketball coach. "The difference in the game I feel was the offensive putbacks in the second half because we had to take our post and help. But we had to give something up, it's impossible not to. They took advantage of that and that's a credit to her (Mazzante). That's what she did for that team."

Bennett found out what every team the Lady Lions have played this season already knows: Kelly Mazzante is a star player and the heart and soul of Penn State basketball.

Mazzante put Penn State on her back last night as the Lady Lions came away with a 62-57 win over the Hoosiers at The Bryce Jordan Center. As usual Mazzante led her team in points, scoring 36. However, she did much more than that for her team.

For starters, Mazzante was able to get to the foul line 13 times, converting 12 of those chances. Penn State head coach Rene Portland has been pleading for the referees to give Mazzante more calls and last night she finally got what she was looking for.

"She probably should have gotten more," Portland said. "That's what it should be."

Mazzante also helped the Lions' much maligned transition defense. Portland made it a point this week to focus on the transition game. She even had her guards practice it alone to get the feel of having to get back to cover for their frontcourt.

The practice seemed to pay off, especially for Mazzante. No. 13's defense ended up being key to the comeback that would deliver the win to her team.

With the Lions trailing the Hoosiers 39-33 Mazzante stole an outlet pass and then quickly scored on a layup during the same possession. The Lady Lions would then score the next nine points and would never trail again.

With renewed confidence Penn State will now get the chance to exact some revenge on their nemesis from last season.

Michigan will come to Happy Valley Sunday at 2 p.m. for a game at The Bryce Jordan Center. The Wolverines won every game that they played against Penn State last season and that is something that the Lady Lions have not forgotten.

"We are now 2-2 in the Big Ten and a lot of teams have two losses and three," Mazzante said. "I think having Michigan come in here with the whole thing last year, losing three times, not only gives us confidence, but now we have a little spark in our eyes. Now we have the goal set that we want to turn our whole Big Ten season around."