Santa Claus was not very good to Women's Basketball Coach Rene Portland this Christmas. She got nothing but sticks and coal in the form of numerous player injuries, and as a result, two tough conference losses.

"I've never coached a team that was so sick or hurt before," Portland said after her team's win over Michigan State on Dec. 30.

That 99-70 victory stands as the only one the No. 8 Lady Lions (9-3, 1-2) have been able to muster versus conference foes. Their decimated ranks fell prey to both Ohio State (78-63) on Dec. 28 and Minnesota (71-56) last Friday, as Penn State, through just three conference games, has already matched its in-conference loss total of a year ago.

While those losses have already been pushed from the Lady Lion psyche, one loss will be sure to linger as this season continues. It was not the loss of a game, but of a person, as starting guard Katina Mack is lost for the rest of 1995 season because of concussions she suffered against Vanderbilt on Nov. 29 and Ohio State.

Other Penn State starters have been smitten by injuries as well, but not as severely. Center Kim Calhoun missed the Michigan State game with a sprain of her mid-foot. Despite being unable to practice, she was forced into the Minnesota loss because of poor shooting from her low-post teammates.

Point guard Tina Nicholson suffered a concussion when she was struck in the forehead by the elbow of teammate Tiffany Longworth during a Jan. 1 practice. She did not start the Minnesota game, butwas forced into action because of lackluster play.

Also, forward Angie Potthoff, center Stacey Hrivnak, guard Tara Macciocco and guard Jamie Parsons are currently battling nagging injuries and illnesses.

"You name it, and we've got it," Portland said.

One thing she doesn't have, though, is personnel.

"We only have eight or nine people at practice every day," Potthoff said. "It's hard for the eight of us to go hard all the time in games when you know that there's no one to come off the bench for us."

Another reason for the Lady Lions' demise at Minnesota -- a team that they had never lost to before -- was poor shooting. The team connected on just 31.5 percent of its shots, and on only one of 14 three-point attempts. But shooting is not the only area in which her team needs work, Portland said.

"If I were to list all the things that we need to work on, there would not be enough hours in the day," Portland said, adding that team chemistry, running the floor and turnovers are her main concerns.

Potthoff has done her part in making the picture look a little less bleak. She has shot 67 percent from the floor and leads the team with 18.5 points per game. She has also been leading the team with 10.9 rebounds per game. She has scored and rebounded in double figures in the last five games and nine of the team's 12 games this season.

Potthoff's play has not been able to save the Lady Lions from losing two of their last three games. Despite their recent rash of bad luck, Potthoff says the Lady Lions have maintained a positive attitude as they prepare for the road ahead, which begins with Northwestern and Michigan this weekend.

"We've been upbeat," Potthoff said. "We're practicing hard, we've got some tough games ahead, and now we're just getting ready for Northwestern."

Note:

-- The Lady Lions enjoyed success in two tournaments over the holiday break. Powered by Missy Masley's 25 points, they won the Las Vegas Showboat Shootout by defeating No. 18 George Washington 90-85 in the tournament final onDec. 22. The Lady Lions also played well in the Central Fidelity Invitational Dec. 9-10. Before being edged 78-74 by No. 1 Tennessee in the tournament final, they smashed host-school Richmond, 94-55.