Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland said that she had been talking to Kelly Mazzante, telling
her that she must put the team on her back.

Last night, on a body that surely wasn't at 100 percent, the junior guard put all nine teammates on her back and had nine opponents from Old Dominion trying to drape themselves on it as well-- in a 38 point performance. That number ties her own Bryce Jordan Center record for points in a game by any player, male or female.

The All-American candidate had not practiced all week due to flu-like symptoms, but she showed no ill effects on the court, as she was the catalyst for the Lady Lions 81-74 victory. She scored 26 of her 38 points in the first half, where she was 8-for-13 from the field. With the 38 points scored last night she is now just three points behind Suzie McConnell-Serio for third place on the Penn State career-scoring list.

She finished 12-for-23 from the field, 12-for-12 from the charity stripe and 2-for-7 from three-point land The Montoursville native had her three point attempts coming up short and attributed it to being tired. So instead of forcing long shots all night, she penetrated into the lane and stayed around the basket.

Her most important baskets may have come in the second half after the Lady Monarchs had cut the lead to nine, 63-54. Mazzante kept pace with the Monarchs by scoring 10 of the next 12 Lions' points over a six minute stretch and assisting in the other basket to Jessica Brungo.

Mazzante took her fair share of foul shots last night as she took 12 and drew contact throughout the night. Portland was happy to see her get hit and not be afraid to battle. Her 12 made-shots from the line were as many as Old Dominion had as a team.

"It was definitely conscious [the effort to get to the foul line]," Mazzante said. "The last couple of games I had only went two and four times and tonight I wanted to get some easy points."

Old Dominion women's basketball coach Wendy Larry thought some of her points may have come too easy. In the first half Mazzante often would cut to the basket and receive a pass for an unchallenged lay-up.

"There was miscommunication on a number of occasions," Larry said.

Portland knew Mazzante hasn't been feeling well, and she said that they have shut her down all week and have been ultra conservative" with her due to Mazzante's mononucleosis case over the summer. Many would say 38 minutes of playing time isn't conservative, but Portland knew what would make the nation's second leading scorer feel better.

"So she scored and I knew that scoring would make her feel better," Portland said. "That's why she played 38 minutes."