Four years ago, James Madison knocked off the women's basketball team, 77-74, in overtime in a game at Harrison, Va.

The following year, the nationally-ranked Dukes came to Rec Hall and won once again, 86-78, in double overtime.

But that was two years ago. Now the circumstances are a little different. No. 1 and top seed in the Eastern Region Penn State (29-1) is the favorite in tommorow's NCAA second-round game at 1:30 p.m. in Rec Hall against eighth-seeded JMU (25-4).

And the team is looking for no overtimes in this one.

"The kids remember that game," Coach Rene Portland said. "It was a very fitting game for us to play in. Saturday will be an emotional challenge for us. Can we rise above what happened two year's ago -- does it affect us?"

"I have a clear memory of the last two times we played them," guard Tanya Garner said. "We had chances and we missed them."

James Madison advanced to the second round of the tournament with a 70-62 come-from-behind win over ninth-seeded Kentucky at home.

This time around, Penn State will try to use its overwelming height advantage to counteract the Dukes and reverse the outcomes of the teams' last two meetings.

JMU has no impact players who are over 6'0", while Penn State has three -- starting center Kathy Phillips (6'3"), backup Tina Henry (6'5") and forward Susan Robinson (6'1").

On paper, PSU, with that height superiority, has the upper hand, especially with the way its inside game has become one of the integral parts of the offense. But despite its supposed disadvantage, JMU has pulled all the right combinations for its 25-win success this season.

"Thay have no size, but they also have a statistic about that," Portland said. "If they outrebound you, they beat you.

"We are going against a very patterned team, a very strict team and a very smart team. They play 40 minutes of man-to-man defense. They're tough nut kids that obviously give out all they can."

"We can definitely take advantage of that (the size difference)," Robinson said. "We look at our size and we can dominate them, but they're a scrappy team."

Without the tall lineup, James Madison has had to rely on its quickness and 3-point shooting. The Dukes are the leading 3-point shooting team in the nation (45 percent) with senior forward Paula Shuler hitting 47.5 percent (48-of-101), junior guard Emily McCracken making 45.5 percent (15-of-33) and forward Jeanine Michaelson knocking down 37.5 percent (33-of-88) from behind the 19'9" line.

For Penn State to be successful, Garner and Robinson believe the team must go outside and put pressure on the 3-point shooting.

"We've kind of let that (3-point defense) get away from us," Garner said. "Against Rutgers, (Makeda Green) hit five 3-pointers late in the game -- it was a good thing we had such a big lead, and (Jennifer) Shasky did that a couple times for George Washington. We have to make sure we don't let Madision go off on us."

In the take-away department, senior guard Kerri Gilmore has 70 steals with Michaelson (53) and senior forward Vicki Harris (50) close behind.

Even with those advantages, JMU is playing the typical underdog's role going into the contest.

"We really don't think they have any weaknesses," Dukes' coach Shelia Moorman said. "But if we play a perfect game or they overlook us, then we might have an opportunity."

"The first five minutes are very important to us. They're the type of team that likes to hit you hard from the beginning. If we can weather those five minutes, that's very important to us."

NCAA Notes: Portland was very surprised with East Regional sixth seed Rutgers' loss at home to Toledo, 83-65, on Wednesday. It was the first loss at home all year for the Lady Knights in a season that included wins over Top 10 teams Penn State, Georgia and Arkansas.

-- Yet, she was pleased that George Washington, of the Atlantic 10, won 73-62 at Richmond and that her former assistant, Providence coach Bob Foley, found a way to nip Fairfield, 88-87, taking the lead with 14 seconds left.

-- A-10 Freshman-of-the-Year Helen Holloway will return to the lineup after a month's absence due to a stress fracture.

-- Tickets are still on sale for the game. Student price is $2 while adults pay $5.