CHAMPAIGN  On Sunday, the University of Illinois won''t merely take its place on the list of biggest women''s basketball crowds in Big Ten Conference history.

   The UI will have crowded out all others for the league''s all-time turnstile lead.

   With about 15,700 tickets sold as of Tuesday for the Illini-Purdue game at the Assembly Hall, Illinois is assured of breaking the 9-year-old conference record for single-game attendance at a women''s basketball game.

This weekend, it's Purdue at the Assembly Hall.

Next month, maybe the NCAA tournament.

Next century, maybe an NCAA regional.

Stats to date

   EAST LANSING, Mich.  The University of Illinois women''s basketball team has some company at the top of the Big Ten Conference.

   The 17th-ranked Illini, storming back for the second consecutive game, scored 30 points in the final 13 minutes but lost to No. 19 Michigan State 78-75 on Sunday before a record crowd at the Breslin Center.

   The University of Illinois women''s basketball team dropped two spots to 17th in The Associated Press Top 25 poll released today.

   EAST LANSING, Mich.  Thanks to Purdue, today''s much-anticipated showdown between the Illinois and Michigan State women''s basketball teams won''t be a tiebreaker.

   Now, the 15th-ranked Illini hope it won''t be a tiemaker, either.

   CHAMPAIGN  Krista Reinking is eager to put up some big numbers this weekend.

   No, not necessarily in points, although that would be nice. Not necessarily in assists or three-point baskets or steals either, although the University of Illinois guard surely wouldn''t object to some big figures in any or all of those categories, too.

   CHAMPAIGN  Theresa Grentz already was wary of her team walking into an ambush on Friday at Ohio State.

   Then it dawned on the University of Illinois women''s basketball coach. Don''t the history books refer to a famous sneak attack that also took place on Feb. 14?