The women's gymnastics team, ranked No. 10, faces defending national champion Alabama, ranked No. 5, tonight in Tuscaloosa.

The Lady Lions have lost all 10 meets against Alabama since the series began in 1983. Last year the Crimson Tide defeated the Lady Lions on Jan. 27 at Rec Hall, 187-184.1.

Coach Judi Avener said the Lady Lions have to be concerned with more than winning.

"A much more significant goal for us is to hit on the balance beam and to hit on the uneven bars better than we did last weekend and the weekend before," Avener said.

In last weekend's first home meet against Ohio State, Penn State did not perform up to par on the beam or the bars. Two Lady Lions fell off the beam and three fell off the bars.

"We have not performed up to our potential in the last two years," Avener said. "If we continue to perform poorly, it will really shake our self-confidence -- and that could last all season."

However, Avener is glad the meet is in Alabama. "It would be especially satisfying to beat them at (Alabama)," she said.

This year's national championship also will be held at Alabama. Avener said, "It's a good opportunity for us to get used to the national floor -- that's supposing we make it to nationals."

Tonight Lynn Crane and Allison Barber will compete in the all-around for Penn State. Crane is ranked No. 18 in the all-around. She did not compete against Alabama last year or in the next six meets because of a foot injury. Barber, who holds Penn State's record for all-around, said "I'm not bothered that we've never beaten them." She said she is anxious to compete against Alabama because it is the national champion.

Seven All-Americans return to Alabama's team, including NCAA all-around champion Dee Dee Foster.

Avener has not decided who else will be in tonight's line-up. Kira Rohm is suffering from sore back and April Polito's Achilles tendon is sore. She will not perform on the vault or the floor.