More than two weeks have passed since the women's basketball team soundly beat Purdue by 14 points at Rec Hall. Since that time, the Boilermakers have revamped the lineup that will challenge the Lady Lions on Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind.

The most dramatic change is the sudden departure of last year's national freshman-of-the-year, Leslie Johnson.

After an argument with Purdue Coach Lin Dunn on Thursday the center announced she is quitting the team for personal reasons. Dunn and Johnson were expected to meet and discuss that decision yesterday.

At a press conference yesterday, Dunn said, "I have no comment on the Leslie Johnson situation."

Johnson was unavailable for comment.

Against Penn State, Johnson finished with 15 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. She did not play in Purdue's weekend wins over Wisconsin (68-66) or Northwestern (78-77).

Junior Kim Calhoun said Johnson's absence may help Penn State a little bit in the game on Sunday.

"We always had to double team Leslie," Calhoun said. "Now we won't have to come over as much and double team the center."

To fill Johnson's position, junior Stacey Lovelace moved from forward and sophomore Danielle McCulley stepped in. At guard, freshman Nicole Erickson was replaced in the lineup by senior Cindy Lamping, who totalled 21 points in the two weekend games.

"Cindy Lamping did an exceptional job," Dunn said. "She's made the transition off the bench quickly."

Penn State Coach Rene Portland may also feature a lineup change of her own at center, but who will get the start and when is uncertain.

Freshman Stacey Hrivnak got the call in the Lady Lions 75-63 win over Illinois on Friday and Portland went with senior Missy Masley in Sunday's 58-55 victory over Wisconsin. And Calhoun, who began the season as Penn State's starter, has not done so since being sidelined with a sprained foot on Dec. 30.

"The attitude that they took really was, 'When can I get my spot back?' " Portland said. "So we're giving ample opportunity at different times for people to shine . . . It's not going to be points that decides who gets that spot. It's going to be the person who plays a lot better."

Penn State is also searching for strength coming off the bench. Against Illinois, Portland turned to guard Jen Reimers and Calhoun to fill in with 20 minutes a piece.

"We took a skeleton crew with us out to Illinois and Jen Reimers came through for us there," Portland said.

But looming this weekend is a road trip that starts Friday at Indiana, where last year the welcoming signs read "Unhappy Valley."