South Florida's Jessica Dickson is still the nation's top scorer. USF lobbied for her when journalists compiled preseason lists of the nation's top players; one writer called back to explain that Dickson committed too many turnovers, and had too low a shooting percentage.

Dickson says the phone call ""definitely motivated me. When he did that, it was the best thing he could have done. I was in (the gym) constantly, just shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, basically until my arms got tired, thinking about what he said."

DePaul coach Doug Bruno: "If Cappie [Pondexter] is the best guard in [the Big East], then Dickson is 1A. This is a great league for guards, and Jessica belongs in the elite of our elite."

Upset by Pittsburgh last week, Dickson's Bulls take on Rutgers tonight. Dickson: "They're a good team and we're a good team... We just have to realize our potential."