The Penn State women's basketball team is ranked among the top-10 teams nationally according to the preseason polls recently released by Athlon and Street & Smith's in their college basketball preview issues.

The Lady Lions were tabbed No. 6 in Athlon's Preseason Top-25. Additionally, Street & Smith's pegged Penn State at No. 9.

Both publications ranked defending national champion Connecticut as their preseason No. 1. Duke, Kansas State, Stanford and Texas rounded out the Athlon Top-5.

In addition, Duke, Texas, Tennessee and Kansas State followed the Huskies in Street & Smith's preseason poll.

Penn State senior Kelly Mazzante (Montoursville, Pa.) was recognized by both publications as one of the top returning players in the country.

Mazzante was named a first-team preseason All-America choice by Athlon and was selected to Street & Smith's "Terrific Ten".

Mazzante enters the 2003-04 campaign just 16 points shy of becoming the Lady Lions' all-time leading scorer.

The two-time Kodak All-America choice is also within 341 points of becoming the top scorer in Big Ten history.

The Lady Lions open the 2003-04 season on Friday, Nov. 21 when they host LSU at the Bryce Jordan Center beginning at 7:00 p.m.

For Lady Lion ticket information contact the Penn State Ticket Office at (814) 865-5555 or (800) 863-3336.