No adjectives needed here. Not backyard or barnyard or anything. Just call it the Brawl.

When the women's basketball team got together with West Virginia Saturday night, the event had a push here or there, some pointing, a few taunts and players hitting the floor -- hard. It's not just a game anymore, it's a rivalry.

The makings of this competition go back to last year's Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. The Lady Mountaineers defeated Penn State, 76-64, in Rec Hall, West Virginia's only victory in that building.

Add to that the incentive of forward Susan Robinson leaving Center Point, W.Va. to come to Penn State, plus the second-year battle between Lady Lions' Dana Eikenberg, Kathy Phillips and Lynn Dougherty against West Virginia's Rosemary Kosiorek, Donna Abbott and Lori Wilson.

"It's a lot like the Penn State and Rutgers duel a few years ago, when it was Suzie (McConnell) against Sue Wicks," Eikenberg said. "(Now) it's basically sophomore class against sophomore class. Last year they won fair and square in the tournament. This year we're looking to take that back. We don't hate them, we just want to play our best each time we play them."

At various points in Penn State's 96-64 triumph, things looked as if they would get ugly. Tanya Garner and Jo Zari tussled at end of the first half and a few minutes later after Zari nailed a 3-pointer, she went back down the court with arms raised high.

In the second half, Eikenberg and Abbott found themselves entangled on the floor. No blows were exchanged, but some words were.

"Last week (in Penn State's 73-71 win at West Virginia) only one team was physical," West Virginia coach Scott Harrelson said. "Today two physical teams came out playing physical basketball. We just wanted to try our best to match up with them."

The teams combined for 43 personal fouls. Harrelson was whistled for a technical foul in the second half and throughout the game the Penn State fans heckled a Lady Mountaineer whenever things got a little touchy.

"It was a very intense game," Eikenberg said. "Nothing was intentional or directed at them."

"If you walk away you make the other team more frustrated," Robinson said. "I've never been in a fight in my life. I may be mad, but I have the self-control; I can walk away."

Penn State coach Rene Portland said she expected the game to be on the physical side based on the contest last weekend in Morgantown. She said she was pleased her players could walk away and that they handled the situation like they did.

Before each game, Portland tells her players to remember who they are and what they represent.

"I think they understood that phrase (on Saturday) more than they've ever understood it," she said.

In the A-10 tournament, to be held March 9-10 in Rec Hall, the teams could meet again. If Penn State continues at its present pace, it could be the top seed. Right now, West Virginia is positioned to be the fourth seed. If both teams win their first-round games, there will be a rematch.

"It's a tough rivalry," Abbott said. "We knew it would be physical, but that doesn't concern me. If they want to be that way, it's going to come back. We look forward to playing them."