About 100 protesters carrying signs which included "PSU: Money or Nothing," and "Men $tate University," sat in groups last night outside Rec Hall listening to the women's basketball team's NCAA game on the radio.

The crowd gathered to protest the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics' decision to send the women's basketball team to Tallahassee, Fla., in the first round of the tournament to face lower-seeded Florida State. The decision was made to allow the men's basketball team to play a nationally televised game at Rec Hall in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Protesters cheered the women's team and received two visits from the Nittany Lion, who was at the men's game. The score of the women's game was posted above a banner, which read, "The Women's Team won the Right to be Here Tonight." The banner hung on a balcony in front of Rec Hall's main entrance.

The protesters were harmless and just supporting their team, said Greg Hill, University police officer. Officer Ellen Aschenbrenner estimated the crowd peaked at about 125 people.

"The whole purpose of the rally was to support the Lady Lions in absentia and to make visible the whole issue of women's equity," said Sabrina Chapman, director of the Center for Women's Students.

"(The rally) shows how many people think the decision to send them packing was wrong," said Janyne Althaus, Undergraduate Student Government president.

"I think (the rally) is a step in the right direction," said Alnisa Allgood, co-director of social and educational programs for the Lesbian and Gay Student Alliance.

The athletic department said it made the decision for attendance reasons. In a prepared statement Sunday, Athletic Director Jim Tarman said the average home crowd for the men's team this year was more than 5,000, and the women's team drew close to 2,000. The attendance at the men's NIT game last night was 3,729, though students were charged $4 for tickets. Regular-season games are free for students with ID>

"Joe Paterno has lambasted Notre Dame for making economic decisions and now Penn State is doing the same thing," said Tammy Foust, co-director of the USG Department of Women's Concerns.

"I don't think (administrators) anticipated that there was going to be an outcry," said Lora Nace, political co-director for LSGA.

The decision is an example of how the University ignores the accomplishments of women, Nace said.

"This is another example of the difference between what Penn State says and what it does," said Althaus, who works for and lives in the same house as women's basketball coach Rene Portland.

"It's not just the isolated community of activist women who are upset about this," Nace said. "A lot of people think this is wrong."

No representatives from the athletic department attended the rally.

Many women athletes attended the rally to show their support for the Lady Lions as well as the men's team.

"We aren't protesting the men's game, we're protesting the administration for not letting the women play here," said Karen Bill, a member of the women's track and field team.

Denise Lane, a trainer for the women's basketball team for the past two years and roommate of forward Terri Williams, said she was pleased with the rally. She said she called the team in Florida yesterday to relay its fans' support.

Some who attended the rally said they would have paid to see a doubleheader.

"They could have compromised but they didn't think about it enough," said Dave Loeper, 1988 alumnus.

Rally organizers collected almost 90 signatures for two petitions during the protest -- one requesting an investigation of the decision to send the women's team on the road and one urging the administration to review the Strategic Study Group for the Status of Women's 1987 recommendation to achieve greater equity between men and women.

The petitions will be sent to University President Bryce Jordan and the University Board of Trustees.

Even though about 100 people attended the rally, many were skeptical about how great an effect this will have on future parity in athletics.

"It bothers me that if there aren't more people here, this isn't going to do anything, just 40 people protesting," Liz Butler (senior-psychology) said.

Staff writer Kimi Eisele contributed to this article.