One almost has to feel sorry for the letter "W," possibly the most uncreative of its other 25 counterparts.

Even if you consider it just an upside-down "m" or a "u" with a growth, coupled with a set of statistics, it can make all the difference.

Such is the case with Tanisha Wright, who was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week yesterday, Penn State's second such honor in as many weeks. Wright averaged 18 points, 5.5 rebounds and five assists in wins over Illinois and Indiana.

Those numbers are nearly identical to her season-opening stats when she averaged 21 points, four rebounds and 3.33 assists. However, that was when the Lady Lions were 0-3 and off the radar.

Wright followed backcourt mate Jess Strom as the Lady Lions' second Big Ten Player of the Week this season. Ohio State center Jessica Davenport shared the distinction, which was Wright's second of her career.

The beginning of the season had Wright shooting over 20 shots per game, and while the numbers were there, the team struggled. Just last week Wright took only 25 shots total in two games, as the emergence of Jen Harris and additional offense from Strom has lightened the burden.

Wright has been the best player on the court for the Lady Lions virtually all season and though her scoring

has been down, she, along with her teammates, have been playing their best basketball. Thus, Penn State has won four straight and sits alone on top of the Big Ten standings.

D, D, D, Defense

Currently the Lady Lions' feet are dragging the cellar floor as ninth in the conference in scoring defense, giving up 65.8 points per game. But in the recent three-game span against Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, Penn State has given up just 47.7 points. Penn State has not allowed more than 28 points in the past four halves. Against Illinois the defense let up just 21 points in the first half and 20 in the second half. In the next game the Lady Lions held Indiana to just 19 second-half points to hold off the Hoosiers.

Also, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana shot just 29.9 percent, 31.5 percent and 35.6 percent, respectively, from the field.

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In this four game win streak for Penn State, two of which were determined by nine points or less, the free-throw stripe has been its dearest friend. Both the Lady Lions and their opponents have an equal 70 attempts, but Penn State has made 56 (80 percent) to the opponents 41 (58.6 percent). Heading into a week with No. 24 Purdue and No. 8 Michigan State on the schedule, Penn State's team free-throw percentage of 79.7 percent leads the country, and may hold serious bearing late in those games. Strom is third in the land shooting 91.8 percent from the line, and Wright is 38th (85.4 percent). These stat rankings are as of Jan. 10.

Bottoms up

The 5-0 conference record has Penn State at the top position in Big Ten standings, but at only 10-6, its .625 overall winning percentage is only tied for sixth best. Four of those five teams with better winning percentages are ranked in the top 25, with Penn State's first conference victim, Ohio State, the highest at No. 3. Purdue, who is also 10-6 this season, is ranked 24th. Penn State, however, still hasn't seen the top 25 since the second week of the season.