When it comes to a Penn State-Minnesota game, Golden Gophers head coach Pam Borton doesn't quite get all the rivalry hype.

"I don't think it's a rivalry thing; it's a Big Ten," she said, adding that there's rivalry in just about any conference game. "From the outside people have created more of a rivalry then within our teams because of the Whalen-Mazzante thing."

As they have so many times and in so many ways in their storied careers, Lady Lion senior guard Kelly Mazzante and Gopher senior guard Lindsay Whalen will cross paths again at 7 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center when the No. 7 Penn State women's basketball team (13-3, 6-0) faces the No. 9 Minnesota women's basketball team (15-1, 4-1).

It may even seem odd that these two players are so connected; they rarely if ever guard one another. Penn State junior guard Tanisha Wright and Whalen -- who will guard one another -- could be the most important match-up in tonight's game. Mazzante and Whalen may not even be a comparison worth making because, though the two are both scorers, each plays a drastically different game.

But since the two first stepped on the court as sensational freshmen four seasons ago, Mazzante and Whalen have been compared constantly. Freshman year Whalen finished second in the conference in scoring, but Mazzante finished first and took home the league's freshman-of-the-year honors. Next season Mazzante led the nation in scoring, but was beat out by Whalen for Big Ten Player of the Year.

Mazzante, the tactician, moving without the ball, curling around screens, making backdoor cuts. Whalen, the slasher, creating her own shots, running in transition, driving to the basket. A classic contrast in styles. With such statistical battles and such differing styles, it's no wonder there is so much intrigue when Mazzante and Whalen take the court for a Penn State-Minnesota game.

Still, even though Penn State junior guard Tanisha Wright might not be the one everyone focuses on before a Penn State-Minnesota game, it will be primarily her who will have to deal with containing Whalen.

For the Big Ten's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Wright, drawing the toughest assignments has become commonplace.

"We haven't talked too much about how we're going to play her yet, but I know probably I'm going to be on her. I'll just do what I do, and that's play defense," Wright said.

Last season, Wright did what she does and played some pretty good defense on Whalen. The All-American got her points -- averaging 18.5 points per game against the Lions -- but also committed 14 turnovers to go with only seven assists in the two times the Gophers and Lions met.

"In half court defense we aren't going to get too worried about Whalen," Lions' assistant coach Annie Troyan said. "We have Tanisha Wright who can contain her. She can still go off at anytime, but Tanisha has done a good job on her."

For Penn State, stopping Whalen will mostly be about stopping Minnesota from getting into transition, where Whalen and the rest of the highest scoring team in the Big Ten get most of their buckets.

Possessing many attributes key to their style of play, the Gophers look like they are built to run. In addition to Whalen, Minnesota has another fleet guard in sophomore Shannon Schonrock, who is averaging 8.8 points per game. Leading the conference in rebounding while ranking fourth in steals and second in blocks, junior center Janel McCarville is a defensive gem, whose quick outlets often serve as the catalyst for Gopher fast breaks.

"There's not much we can do with McCarville; she's going to get her rebounds and steals," Wright said. "It's up to us to get to their guards quick in transition."

Even in a halfcourt set, Whalen, who worked hard on her outside game over the summer, will be dangerous.

"If I have a shot [from outside], I'm going to take, but I'm not going to force anything against [Wright]," Whalen said.

With the Big Ten's two top scorers -- on two of its best teams -- potentially going shot for shot for one of the last times, there's bound to be plenty of intrigue storylines. Add Whalen matching wits with the league's best defender to the list.