It was a game in which the women's lacrosse team was praying for one more overtime. It proved to be one game too many.

Having split their first two contests in overtime decisions, the No. 5 Lady Lions (1-2) lost their second in a row in a 9-6 battle with James Madison (1-2) Saturday in Harrisonburg, Va.

"I don't know how to explain it," Coach Julie Williams said. "It's frustrating as a coach to watch your team fall apart."

The Lady Lions started the game with a 3-0 lead after 11 minutes of play. But the Duchesses came back with four goals of their own, including back-to-back scores by senior Laura Whelan. Lady Lion Kara Stockett ended the first half of scoring to tie the teams at 4-4.

But the Duchesses opened the second half with another string of four goals to post an 8-4 advantage. Junior attacker Christy Way put the Lady Lions within two at 8-6, but that was as close as they could get.

"I would definitely call it a tough loss," Stockett said. "It was a big game for us . . . we really needed to test ourselves. It just didn't seem to come together."

Looking for answers, Williams called a timeout at the 7-4 mark. It was then that she sensed uncertainty.

"They just looked scared," Williams said. "We just couldn't recover."

She told them to get back to the basics. The Lady Lions couldn't contain the Dukes and were throwing the ball away when they weren't under pressure, Williams said. She is uncertain why.

"I hate to keep saying youth," she said. "It was just a matter of no one person having a good day."

Stockett led Penn State with two goals, while Way, Amy Carnaggio, Joanne Connelly and Michelle DeJuliis each added one. James Madison outshot the Lady Lions, 21-18. It won't get any easier for the Lady Lions, who will face perennial powerhouse Virginia on Saturday.

"We really need to re-think," Stockett said. "Thank God we have that week off."

Williams is thankful that the team won't get a lesser opponent -- she said a tough battle is just what they need. And while she knows every experience is a learning one, it will take her a little longer to figure this one out.

"I'm not sure yet -- I need some more distance from it," she said. "It's tough when they just don't show up. We're back to square one now."