BLACKTOWN, Australia (AP) -- About the worst thing you can do is ask Tanya Harding about her name.

 And don't confuse her with the other one -- of figure skating fame, not much of it good.

 Most important, she is Tanya, rhymes with "can ya," and not Tonya, rhymes with "con ya."

 She is also an Australian softball player, one of the best pitchers in the world -- and a fine hitter, too. Harding demonstrated both on Monday when she struck out 11 in the first five innings of a combined no-hitter and also homered to beat Italy 7-0.

 Harding led UCLA to the NCAA softball championship in 1995, posting a 4-0 record and 0.50 ERA while also batting .500. She was also the only pitcher to beat the United States in the '96 Olympics.

 But Tanya, like Tonya, hasn't entirely escaped controversy.

 Harding registered for only one trimester at UCLA and never took any finals. After winning the NCAA title, she returned to Australia to play on the Olympic team.

 Opponents complained, though the arrangement was not against NCAA rules. Harding said the school was fully aware of her plans from the start.

 The Australian team's media guide describes her this way:

 "To her teammates, Tanya is known as the 'smiling assassin.' One of the best pitchers in the world, Harding will deliver near-lethal pitches with a grin, and no matter how arduous the task, her beam never fades."

 Is there more in a name than she lets on?

 "I just like to have fun. I think if I'm having fun, I play well," she explained, breaking into a wide grin. "And I like to smile a lot."