When Jenny Kretchmar and Tina Henry were introduced in 1984 no one could have envisioned how fruitful their relationship would be. But the women's basketball program is glad they met.

While both are now talented basketball players, their beginning steps down the road to success began very differently. Tina Henry wasn't very interested in basketball, even though she stood 6'0" by age 12. Don Henry, Tina's father, recalls that it was Tina's junior high girl's basketball coach who finally convinced her to try out for the team in eighth grade.

Jenny Kretchmar's involvement in the sport began in the fifth grade at her elementary school in New York. Scott Kretchmar, a University professor of exercise and sport science, explained that his daughter grew up in a very athletic home. He attributes Jenny's basketball prowess to one-on-one basketball games against her older brother.

The two women's paths finally crossed in the seventh grade when Kretchmar's family moved from New York to State College. Since that time the they have grown together as basketball players and friends.

"We are really good friends," Henry said. "If either of us ever had a problem, we would go to each other."

"We've known each other since the seventh grade, and we know each other's games," Kretchmar added. "We're really good friends. She only lives right down the hall from me."

The more familiar Kretchmar and Henry became with each other's style of play in high school, the better they performed together and complimented each other's games.

"I thought we played really well together (in high school)," Henry said. "We just wanted to do what was best for the team."

"You would see them working very closely on the court," State College girl's basketball coach Frank Guerra said. "They were two girls who led by example and the best two we had."

Guerra also noted that the two women were team players who performed the roles they were asked to do. However, when the team needed a boost, he said both women were able to provide a spark and pick up the tempo.

"The girls knew when it was their job to score," Guerra said.

While both Kretchmar and Henry were very competitive ball players, their intensity did not affect their on or off the court relationship.

"The one thing I really didn't see was a rivalry between them," Guerra said. "They didn't try to out do each other. They were just glad to be on the same team."

Guerra believes they had too much admiration for each other's talents to become rivals. Henry knew she couldn't handle the ball as well as Kretchmar could and Kretchmar realized Henry had some abilities which she didn't possess.

Having won USA TODA Y honorable mention and all-state accolades, Kretchmar, a 5'6" guard, and Henry, a 6'4" center, began to attract attention from schools like Duke, Ohio State, UNLV and Notre Dame as early as their sophomore years.

Penn State coach Rene Portland recalls that Henry was recruited the first day she became eligible, the day after her junior year of high school had ended. A combination of her size and talent were the reasons Penn State recruited her so heavily.

Kretchmar also received much interest from Penn State, but she wanted to look at some different schools.

"For Tina, Penn State was it," Guerra said. "Jenny liked Penn State but wanted to see other schools too."

Henry's father said that she didn't even look at any other schools, and her choice to attend Penn State was the easiest decision she ever made.

Kretchmar finally chose Penn State because of its strong tradition of women's basketball and the academic challenges she could find here. A member of the University Scholars program, she is currently a liberal arts major leaning toward a degree in psychology.

By attending Penn State, both women could still play together and be a part of a program that they have admired for years. That made their decisions even easier.

"I always thought it would be kind of neat if we stuck together," Henry said. "I mean, not too many high school students get to play together in college."

Kretchmar's father said the two enjoyed playing with each other and it just happened that they both wanted to attend Penn State.

Kretchmar, who used to cut out articles about the Lady Lions from newspapers when she was younger, also chose Penn State because of the great fan support the team receives, support she did not experience at other schools she visited.

"There's a tradition of great basketball here," Kretchmar said. "And the crowd is pretty exciting."

Along with the convenience of living only minutes from the University, which is said to be three hours from everywhere, comes the thrill the two women receive from being hometown favorites. When Kretchmar and Henry appear on the court they are welcomed by roars of approval.

"It makes me feel good just to know they're 100 percent behind you and want to see you succeed," Henry said. "There's always a loud cheer when I score," Kretchmar agreed.

Kretchmar and Henry saw limited action this season, but Portland expects that to change very soon. Kretchmar, who contracted mono earlier in the season, got off to a rather slow start but worked hard all year to build back her strength.

Portland said she is pleased with both Kretchmar's and Henry's progress and anticipates that both will assume much larger roles next year. In fact, Penn State did not recruit a point guard this year so Kretchmar "wouldn't have a freshman riding up her butt next year," Portland said.