Last year, Penn State and Purdue took Big Ten women's basketball by storm, each capturing a share of the conference championship. Then, Coach Rene Portland's Lady Lions advanced to the elite eight of the NCAA tournament, while Lin Dunn's Boilermakers reached the Final Four.

Back in November, Penn State and Purdue were predicted to once again breeze through the conference. So much for predictions. At the beginning of this season, both teams struggled.

But No. 10 Penn State and No. 19 Purdue are getting back to their winning ways. The Lady Lions (12-3, 3-2 Big Ten) recently completed a string of three victories, and Purdue (11-5, 3-2) is coming off back-to-back blowouts of Indiana and Iowa.

So when the Boilermakers visit Rec Hall at 1 p.m. tomorrow in front of CBS cameras, it figures to be a barn-burner. Two marquee programs. Two marquee coaches.

"Both of us need this game," Portland said. "It's going to be a great game. It should be a knock-down, drag-out fight."

Currently, Purdue and Penn State are entangled in a four-way tie with Indiana and Minnesota for second place in the Big Ten. Both the Lady Lions and the Boilermakers have been riddled by injuries this season, which may account for the rash of early season losses.

Penn State suffered its first major setback on Nov. 29 against Vanderbilt, when guard Katina Mack sustained a grade-three concussion. After being sidelined for seven games, she returned to the court on Dec. 28 at Ohio State, only to re-aggravate the injury. The senior will be out for the remainder of the season.

Since then, six other Lady Lion players have been hampered by injuries.

Last Tuesday at George Washington, redshirt sophomore Angie Potthoff received a grade-one concussion. Although the forward didn't practice yesterday, Portland said the team's leading scorer should see action tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in West Lafayette, Ind., Dunn has been forced to deal with her team's own injuries.

"Penn State is in a similar situation to what we're in right now," she said. "They've had some key players injured and that can affect your chemistry. I understand what they've been going through."

Boilermaker sophomore center Leslie Johnson, the 1993-94 Big Ten and National Freshman-of-the-Year, missed four games earlier this season due to a pulled left hamstring. But in the last eight games, Johnson has been the force she was a year ago, averaging 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Purdue guard Cindy Lamping missed six games earlier this season because of a lower back muscle strain, while junior forward Tonya Kirk rejoined the Boilermakers on Dec. 29 after sitting out the first 10 games for personal reasons.

Despite Purdue's early season struggles, Portland said she believes the Boilermakers are a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten. She is most concerned with Purdue's frontcourt. Forwards Jannon Roland and Stacey Lovelace are averaging 14.1 and 13.1 points, respectively.

"Our big challenge is defending their post players," Portland said. "They were a great team last year. I think they're even a better team this year."