After Massachusetts scored the first six points of the game and led, 11-6, at the 4:57 mark last night, co-captain Tanya Garner decided to take over.

Not by words but by actions.

Garner turned up the defensive pressure on Massachusetts (3-15) guard Michele Pytko, causing four turnovers in the first half on the defensive end. As a result of Garner's relentless defensive pressure, the Lady Lions went on to outscore UMass, 35-18, and put the game away.

"I think definitely Tanya'a actions speak louder than words," Susan Robinson said.

With Garner leading the defensive charge, everyone else followed her lead, causing 31 turnovers, a season-high, as Penn State (15-3) won, 91-58.

"It was real important since I was playing the point guard that meant the defensive would start where I was," Garner said. "So I figured if I would pick up and make (Pytko) work real hard. Then everybody else would do the same thing."

"I think Tanya is smart enough to realize that she better get her gears in gear," Coach Rene Portland said. "She turned it up at the right time and certainly down the stretch in the first half she was playing very well for us."

"She doesn't say a word," she added.

Garner also played a determined second half and finished with 17 points, seven assists, six steals and one block, completely dominating Pytko.

"Tanya is the best two-guard in the league; there is not another player with her capacity, her quickness, shooting ability," Portland said. "The arsenal that Tanya has in her game and the way it has developed for us we are very, very fortunate to have her on our team."

Garner showed all facets of that arsenal last night. In the first half, she frustrated Pytko into a steal which led to an uncontested layup. Then, in the offensive zone, she nailed a 3-pointer to lengthen Penn State's lead.

At the end of the first half, Garner stopped an intended pass with only three seconds left and then pointed at her opponent as she walked off the court.

"The last few minutes or so before halftime it is real important to finish strong," she said. "If you finish hard that is a good motivator."

In the second half, she came from the weakside to block an uncontested layup of UMass guard Sue Serafini.

"I went wideside and she couldn't see me. Normally when you get a breakaway layup you just look behind you and not to the side of you," Garner said. "And I just tried to time it as much as possible and it worked out."

Offensively, she picked up a loose ball in her own end and led a 3-on-2 break before drawing the defense to her and dishing off to Stefeni Thomas for an uncontested layup.

With all these actions, Garner doesn't need to speak.

"Being a captain is a very important role on the team and she needs to display leadership by actions not necessarily by words," Portland said. "And when the kids saw her ready to play, I think she generated some interest."