Searching for a standout among the talent of the women's basketball team, Coach Rene Portland has hesitated in dubbing a captain for the Lady Lions' 1993-94 campaign.

"I didn't see the leadership," Portland said. "I didn't see the things that most coaches don't see to start off the season."

But Portland probably doesn't have to look much further than her two seniors, guard Jackie Donovan and forward Helen Holloway.

"I look for them to give us some leadership, to give (the team) a kick in the butt when they need it," the 14th-year Penn State coach said. "I'm obviously looking for some points. I don't have to tell Helen that all that much because, when in doubt shoot, be in doubt always."

And there's no doubt Holloway can and will shoot the trey. She converted 24-of-68 attempts from beyond the 19 foot, 9 inch stripe, while averaging 12.4 points per game as a junior.

"They don't expect me to shoot it because I'm a post player," the 6-foot Holloway said. "They play off of me. So I take what they give me."

Portland wants Holloway's attitude to rub off on her other senior.

"I hope she shares that with Jackie," she said.

Although Donovan averaged 7.3 ppg last season, she is widely recognized for her defensive prowess. Her 49 steals were second on the Lady Lions, behind sophomore point guard Tina Nicholson.

What the upperclassmen do share is the everyday pain of nagging injuries.

Donovan, the Lady Lions' defensive ace, fractured the bone in her big toe and had it operated on in the spring.

"When I first had surgery, I wasn't even allowed to stand in front of the basket," the 5-foot-10 Donovan said. "Rene thought it would be good if I just lay on my floor and shoot into the air, but I think I still shoot kind of wacky."

Holloway, the low-post force and surprising three-point threat, has been bothered by bone growths on both joints of her knees throughout her career. She ices her knees for 10 minutes both before and after practice, she said.

Both Donovan and Holloway have set their sights on a similar goal to end their Lady Lion careers -- a national championship.

"Being this is our last season, you want to do anything that hasn't been done, making it to the Final Four or better," Holloway said.