Niagara University has a rich tradition in men's basketball with such alumni as Frank Layden and Hubie Brown.

But Coach Jim Coen wants to start a tradition for his women's program as well as he leads his Lady Eagles (5-8) into Rec Hall at 7:30 tonight for a game against ninth-ranked Penn State (12-4).

The squad that the Lady Lions will see is an undersized and undermanned one which Coen hopes to build up through the next few years. The team starts two freshmen and hopes that games against schools like Penn State will strengthen their playing abilities.

"If we want to build a quality program we have to play teams like Penn State and we've got to get a great effort out of all of our kids," the second-year coach said.

Because of injuries to its only two six-footers, Niagara plays with only eight members, the tallest one being 5-foot-11-inch forward Samantha David.

"We just can't match up physically with Penn State," Coen said. "We're going to have to play some zone. We try to be aggressive but we won't try to go 94 feet."

With that zone, the Lady Eagles will also be switching off defensively during the game. Thus, it's possible for a 5-foot-7-inch player to guard 6-foot-1-inch Susan Robinson, a matchup that Coen isn't looking forward to.

"My players tell me, 'We can't stop Robinson,' and I say, 'Neither can anyone else,' " Coen said.

The Lady Eagles have been described by themselves and opposing coaches as "scrappers" and "rugrats," and Penn State Coach Rene Portland expects just that kind of game.

"They play hard and they shoot more 3-pointers than any team we've faced," Portland said. "They push the ball up exceptionally well and play an aggressive defense."

And the Lady Eagles do shoot the ball. In their first 11 games, the Eagles put up 252 shots from 3-point land -- making 69 of them. Pittsburgh native Kim Kuhn, who averages over 16 points a game, shot seven treys in her last game and has 14 in a game earlier this season.

"We have a couple of math majors on this team and they figured out that it's worth more to shoot from 20 feet than from closer," Coen said.

The Lady Lions are well aware of Niagara's aerial attack and realize that defense will be important when running down court.

"We expect a very up-tempo game. Niagara will let it fly from anywhere -- 20 feet, 25 feet," Carla Coleman said. "Transition defense is going to be a key. They do push the ball up the floor so we'll have to do a lot of talking -- I think that will be the key."

One of the starting freshmen to watch is point guard Jennifer Nelson. She is averaging 11 points a game and leads the team in minutes but the Cornwall native said that she still has to adjust to being thrust into the lineup early in her career.

"It's been tough at point guard," Nelson said. "It's hard because the point guard is supposed to be a leader on the court but I'm just a freshman."

While Nelson sees nothing but good times ahead in her four years, David, a junior, knows that there will be some lean times ahead this season as Niagara copes with injuries and rebuilding. However, she realizes that the future needs to be shaped in this fashion for the program to succeed.

"It's frustrating at times but it makes us work all the harder -- it gives us the incentive to do the best we can," David said."For me it's frustrating but the coach is doing the things we need. He's going out and recruiting and making us play Penn State."

Portland said that tonight's game will continue to provide a good workout for the Lady Lion bench as players like Katina Mack, Missy Masley and Kim Lazor should see more time.

"This should be a good game for the bench," Portland said. "That can only help us in the next stretch of games."