In an attempt to end a recent skid in Philadelphia, the No. 22 women's basketball team travels there for two critical games in the next three days. The Lady Lions begin the trip at 7 tonight in McGonigle Hall against Temple. On Saturday, they face No. 21 St. Joseph's at 3 p.m.

"We (all) respect each other," Dana Eikenberg said. "Against Temple, it'll be a full fight for 40 minutes. We're going to have to get in their faces and try to blow them out quick."

In the last six years, Penn State (16-3, 10-0 in the Atlantic 10) has had some problems with both teams on the road. The Lady Lions haven't won at Temple since 1986, when they eked out a 70-68 victory. Three consecutive losses, each one by five points, make this a game to break a streak.

"Psychologically I think you look and say how long ago it was we won there," Coach Rene Portland said. "I think we have to look at that. The fact that we allowed Temple to even believe they can play with us when they were up here. It's something their coaching staff is saying, 'Look you got close, you got close.' The bottom line is you can get as close as you want but we won."

In that game, Penn State needed to convert six consecutive free throws in the final 21 seconds to prevail 86-79.

This season the Lady Owls are only 9-10, a far cry from last season's 22-10 record and an NCAA berth.

"I just hope it's as good a game as when we last played them except I hope the outcome will be a little different," Temple coach Linda MacDonald said. "This season has been a transition year for us. We've had to persevere and we've certainly been through adversity."

Senior forward Kelly Lane leads the Lady Owls with 19.6 points per game. Rhonda Bates (11.6 ppg) paces the squad in rebounds with 9.4 per contest. Also in double figures is guard Kelly Wickes with 10.6.

MacDonald said Temple must stop Kathy Phillips. In the Jan. 8 game, Phillips scored a career-high 27 points to help preserve the win. MacDonald also said the team must play "intense defense."

In Saturday's game, the Lady Lions will certainly face one of their toughest games of the season when they tangle with the Lady Hawks and stellar forward Dale Hodges. St. Joseph's is 16-3 and 12-0 in the A-10 and tonight it plays Rutgers.

Penn State has defeated St. Joseph's at the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse on the road only once in the last five years (71-60 in 1997). The Lady Lions have lost five straight games to the Lady Hawks.

"All five of us are going to have be on Hodges," Eikenberg said.

Penn State will need all 10 hands to stop this outstanding senior. At the start of the week, Hodges was averaging 27 ppg. Hodges was named Co-Player of the Week for last week when she averaged 30 points and 11 rebounds in three games.

Hodges holds or shares 30 school records, including all-time leading scorer.