After losing the point guard job to Dawn Chambers in the preseason, you could hardly blame freshman guard Dana Eikenberg if she was upset. Instead of complaining about her playing time,however, she continued to work hard and wait for an opportunity to prove herself.

She didn't have a long wait.

After the women's basketball team stumbled to a 1-3 start, Coach Rene Portland decided changes needed to be made. As a result, Eikenberg was inserted into the starting lineup at the point guard position alongside sophomore Tanya Garner, the squad's shooting guard.

The move into a starting role seemed to have little effect on Eikenberg though. Penn State lost five of its next seven games and Eikenberg, who was named a "Freshman of Influence" by Atlantic 10 coaches during the preseason, struggled to become the team's leader.

In her last two games, however, the Gates Mills, Ohio, native has slowly began to assert herself on the court. Last Thursday in a 79-50 win over Massachusetts, she tallied seven points, two assists, two steals and one turnover. On Saturday evening, in her best performance of the season, Eikenberg netted 10 points, and added 10 assists, three steals and one turnover in just 22 minutes of action.

Portland expressed pleasure at the way her point guard is beginning to come into her own.

"I feel their is marked improvement in her confidence and play," said POrtland, who is her ninth season as Lady Lion coach. "She's learning the system and her timing is better between herself and her teammates. I'm very pleased (with Dana). She's done an outstanding job and she's our No. 1 choice at the point guard position."

Eikenber is also pleased with her recent performances.

"I think what has happened is I'm becoming a lot more confident in myself through the time I'm spending with Annie (Troyan, assistant coach), Rene and all of the other coaches," explained the 5-foot-6 freshman.

Eikenberg also credited the difficulty of the Lady Lions' schedule as a factor which has forced her to play her best.

Portland said the impact of playing tough teams so early in the season "remains to be seen." She did, however, Conpliment Eikenberg for possessing a "very healthy attitude."

As a member and co-captain on the 1988 Junior Olympic basketball team, Eikenberg feels she has settled down and can now play her game.

"I feel a lot more in control of myself and I feel more comfortable with the system," she said. "I feel I have a good grasp, but not perfection. I still tend to get nervous before games."

Penn State will continue its trek toward respectability when the Lady Lions face St. Joseph's in a key A-10 matchup tonight. Eikenberg realizes she must turn in a steady performance if the Lady Lions are to upset St. Joseph's, a Top 20 program.

"(I have) to take care of the ball and run the offense effectively," she said. "Execution will be the key. When we played St. Joe's earlier (a 83-69 loss on Jan. 7) we did not execute. We have to play stable and (I have to) be able to get the ball to whoever has the hot hand, stay in control and stay within myself."

"She has to run this ball club," Portland added. "She has to get this club running. She has to be confident, run our offense effectively and she has to have a strong defensive game against (St. Joseph's guard) Ellen Shields."