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

   The Illini, 19-5, remain the highest ranked Big Ten Conference team in the poll. Michigan State, 19-5, moved up one spot to 19th. Unranked Big Ten teams receiving votes were Purdue, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Outright title possible.

   Illinois still can clinch the Big Ten title outright. The Illini need to beat Wisconsin and Purdue at home next weekend and have Michigan State lose to either Penn State or Northwestern.

   If Illinois and Michigan State both finish 2-0, they would be declared co-champions. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head competition, and the teams split. A second tiebreaker is overall record, and both teams are 19-5.

   "There is still time left for us to learn some things, and now the players will listen even more to what I have to say," UI coach Theresa Grentz said. "I will have the players'' undivided attention this week in practice."

A hot ticket.

   The UI has sold more than 12,500 tickets to Sunday''s regular season finale against Purdue at the Assembly Hall.