Fifty-three down. Two to go.

For the super-duo of Jess Strom and Tanisha Wright, tonight's game against Wisconsin (10-12, 4-8 Big Ten) serves as their next-to-last game at the Bryce Jordan Center.

On Sunday, the backcourt tandem end a run in which No. 24 Penn State (16-8, 11-2) lost only five of those 53 games -- only one in the last three seasons.

"It's amazing," Wright said. "We do take pride in [winning at home]. It's amazing to be able to say that only one team has beaten us here in the last three years. ... We've really stuck to that goal and to that challenge of not losing here at the Jordan Center. For us to come in and focus every game about doing that, it's really amazing."

Sentimental stuff aside, at 7 tonight in the Bryce Jordan Center the Lady Lions have to deal with a Badger team they beat 67-58 on Jan. 8.

In the previous matchup, four Lady Lions were in double figures, led by Strom's 16 points and a double-double (12 points, 15 rebounds) from Ashli Schwab. Wisconsin freshman guard Jolene Anderson torched the Lady Lions for 27 points.

Penn State coach Rene Portland is hoping that the second time around won't resemble the Lady Lions' trip to West Lafayette, Ind., when Purdue beat Penn State 50-44.

"We have a rule that we don't want to lose to the same team twice," Portland said. "If other people have that rule, then they get themselves fired up. We saw a different Purdue team when they played us there than the first time. You just have to put it behind you and really accept them for who they are now, not who they were then."

In order for the Lady Lions to have a chance at their third straight Big Ten title, they must do as Portland has said all year long -- win at home, steal on the road. Penn State is perfect at home this season, but the season finale at No. 2 Ohio State will be the truest test before the postseason.

The Buckeyes are a half-game up on Penn State in the conference standings, but if the Lady Lions win out, they win the regular-season championship.

That puts the onus on the backs of Strom and Wright, and with their final days of collegiate basketball in front of them, controlling their own destiny is welcomed.

"I wouldn't rather have it any other way," Wright said. "If you're a competitor, that's the way you should think. You're able to control it. Then you just need to go out and get it done. We need to focus on these games at hand."

Penn State has won the past seven games against Wisconsin and 11 of the last 12. The Badgers are 0-11 at the Jordan Center.