After 11 top-five finishes, including seven second places, at the Big Ten Championships, the Penn State women's gymnastics team will take another shot at surpassing an obstacle it has yet to overcome in 13 seasons in the Big Ten. The 11th-ranked Nittany Lions will have the opportunity to don the Big Ten crown for the first time ever tomorrow night at the Big Ten Championships in Iowa City, Iowa. The Lions toughest competition will be Michigan, which was the only Big Ten team to defeat Penn State this year.

"They beat us earlier in the year," Penn State coach Steve Shephard said. "But we felt that we could compete."

The Lions proved they could hang with the seventh-ranked Wolverines by defeating them in two events in the schools' January meeting. Penn State also missed four bar routines, which damaged its score and could possibly have altered the outcome of the competition. Besides Michigan and Penn State, No. 22 Minnesota is the only other ranked Big Ten team. However, Michigan State, Illinois and Ohio State have all been hot and are dangerous opponents for the Lions.

"It's a very strong conference," Shephard said. "Every team has some outstanding individuals on it. Its going to be a good competition."

Unlike other sports, collegiate gymnastics does not automatically include the conference tournament winner in its national tournament. Penn State, which has virtually locked up a spot in the NCAA Regionals, can still improve its regional qualifying score and perhaps its seeding with a strong showing tomorrow night.

The Lions will keep working on little things, like sticking landings, to try to keep their streak alive.

"We have high quality gymnasts on this team," Shephard said. "Its going to be a question of who can be the most consistent. The little things will determine the outcome."