Forward Lynn Dougherty talks of giving that extra effort. Guard Tanya Garner expects a fast-tempo type of game. Coach Rene Portland is concerned with quickness.

These words reflect the importance of tonight's women's basketball game with Maryland at 5:35 p.m. at Cole Field House. After playing five consecutive games at home and winning each by an average of 30 points, the Lady Lions (12-2) enter one of their most difficult contests of the season.

Yesterday Penn State jumped three notches in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll to No. 18. Maryland lost all three of its games last week to drop nine notches to No. 23. The Lady Terrapins are 10-7 on the season.

Yet Maryland has won the last two meetings with the Lady Lions, including an embarrassing 87-53 stomping last year in Rec Hall. But both teams have different thoughts heading into tonight's matchup.

"We have so many things that we want to pay back ourselves from last year," Portland said. "This is right along the lines. We're 12-2 and that's not something we haven't worked very hard for. We've worked very, very hard for it. And that's why we're not afraid of the Maryland game because we know how much work it's going to take. It's meant to be a great basketball game down at College Park."

Since her team has lost five of its last six games, Maryland coach Chris Weller is a little wary. With Penn State's high-flying offense scoring close to 93 points per game, Weller feels it is inevitable that the game be fast-paced. She also indicated Penn State would be a difficult obstacle to overcome.

"We're just going to try to play hard," Weller said, "(because) we're not playing particularly well right now."

Weller doesn't feel that the home-court advantage will play a role because both teams have won on the other's court. In 1986, Penn State nipped Maryland, 58-53, at Cole Field House.

The problems that have developed for Maryland during its losing streak are evident in the starting rotation. Only two players -- center Christy Winters and forward/guard Subrena Rivers --have started every game.

Still, the scoring has been balanced with Winters scoring 17 points per game and Carla Holmes netting 13. Two freshmen have also made contributions --Estelle Christy (8.9 ppg) and Jessie Hicks (8.3 ppg).

After last Saturday's game against St. Bonaventure, Garner said that defense would be the key to Penn State's success. She focused her attention on the quickness of the Lady Terps guards.

"It's going to be very difficult because they have great guards," Garner said, "and I think we all realize that. We'll really have to be extra pumped to do very well against them. Not so 'contain and try to stop them,' but we just have to play nice, controlled defense."

Notes: Common opponents: both teams defeated Temple, American and Howard. The Lady Lions beat Virginia, 90-77, on Jan. 6 but the Lady Terps lost to Virginia, 82-79 . . . Scoring Streak: With her 20 points against St. Bonaventure Saturday night, forward Susan Robinson extended her scoring in double figures streak to 42 games, every game she's played in college.