It would be very understandable if six is the new favorite number of the Hamline's women's basketball team. After all, the HU hoopsters will go for their sixth straight win on Wednesday, February 6 when they host St. Olaf at Hutton Arena in a 7:30 p.m. game.

A victory would do more than just extend the longest HU women's hoop streak since 1986. It would give them a stranglehold on sixth place -- the final MIAC playoff position. Picked for ninth in the annual coaches' pre-season poll, Hamline enters the game with a 10-7 conference standard (11-10 overall). That's two games better than the Oles (9-9, 11-10) and just one game behind fifth place Gustavus.

As Shakespeare might say, though, the current game's the thing. And the Pipers know full well what the Oles can do. The last time these teams faced each other, HU came up with a ferocious late rally cutting a 15-point second half deficit but coming up a basket short in a 73-71 loss in Northfield on January 9. St. Olaf shot 54 per cent from the field and held a 39-32 rebounding edge to gain the victory.

Steph Pilgrim, who currently leads the league in scoring with a 16.1 points per game average, gunned in 27 points that night and Jordan Sammons, who ranks third at 14.6 ppg, added 20. Pilgrim drilled six three-pointers in the game, igniting a run that has moved her to the top of the MIAC heap and 16th nationally in three pointers per game at 2.8. 

The Pipers, who defeated St. Catherine 66-43 Monday, play their next three games at Hutton. Concordia is here Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. matinee with Bethel wrapping up the home slate on Feb. 13. HU finishes the regular season February 16 at Carleton.