ST. LOUIS -- There were times the past two weeks when Tara Mitchem might have wanted to check whether she was backing up Jackie Stiles or Britney Spears.

After Stiles' 73 combined points in two West regional games lifted Southwest Missouri State into the Women's NCAA Final Four, fans lined up for more than an hour hoping for autographs. Teammates had to pry her away to shower.

Upon returning to Springfield, Mo., the NCAA's all-time leading women's scorer and her teammates were greeted by about 500 fans, some waving signs such as ``Jackie, will you marry me?'' At Thursday's open Final Four practice, Stiles received a standing ovation during shooting drills.

``She's just amazing, this whole ride we've been on for two weeks,'' said Mitchem, SMS's No. 2 scorer. ``I don't want it to end.''

The tour bus pulls into the national semifinals tonight against Purdue, with thousands of Southwest Missouri State fans making the three-hour drive in hopes of turning the Savvis Center into the House of Stiles.

``It has been very wild,'' Stiles said. ``I still have to keep pinching myself and keep saying, `Is this really happening? Is this really me?' ''

Wednesday night, Stiles was named winner of the Margaret Wade Trophy as the nation's top women's player. She leads the nation in scoring with a 30.6 average, shooting 57 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range.

``I'm not sure if I have ever seen anyone that can score like she can,'' said Purdue coach Kristy Curry, whose task it is to come up with an effective defense.

The nation is just discovering the 5-8 dynamo's appeal, a mix of Pete Maravich, Larry Bird and Julia Roberts.

Her open-court skills remind old-timers of the late Maravich, a whiz whenever the ball was in his hands. Her work ethic -- she forces herself to make 1,000 shots a day -- and small-town background (Claflin, Kan., population 600) instantly recall Bird, along with how she has carried the Bears. And she has that wholesome girl-next-door appeal.

``If we had to lose to anyone, I'm happy that it's Jackie Stiles,'' said Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, whose team was eliminated by the Bears in the second round. ``That story needs to be told.''

For those who stayed up to watch the West action in Spokane, Wash., Stiles delivered the best show in late night.

She scored 41 points as Southwest Missouri State (29-5) eliminated top-seeded Duke 81-71 in the regional semis Saturday, knocking down 15 of 22 field-goal attempts. ``She is relentless,'' Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said. ``It's constant motion.''

When Southwest Missouri State beat Washington 104-87 two nights later, Stiles struck for 32 points before fouling out with 3 1/2 minutes remaining, then tried to lead her team from the bench.

``She's not the most vocal,'' senior guard Melody Campbell said. ``But she got us together and said, `Do not let up. Attack, attack, attack.' ''

Now it's up to Purdue (30-6) to come up with a plan to neutralize Stiles. According to Bears coach Cheryl Burnett, it will have to be pretty innovative to surprise them.

``I would think we've seen basically everything this season,'' Burnett said. ``If we haven't seen it, I don't know for sure what it could be.

``She's actually made me change the way I coach. Usually, if you don't have an advantage in numbers, I tell our players to wait and we'll run something halfcourt.

``But we have given Jackie a rule. If you see one [defender], take 'em. If you see two, take 'em. If you see three, you might think about holding up, but most of the time she tries to take them, too.''

Purdue has an All-American guard in Katie Douglas and six players remaining from a national championship team of two years ago. But with Connecticut and Notre Dame meeting in the other semifinal and the Stiles show taking center stage, the Boilermakers arrive virtually unheralded.

``I think this team just believes that we can do anything we want to do,'' Curry said. ``[Others] can focus on whatever they want.''

The Boilermakers better focus on Stiles.