Tourney-time for Lady Lions

The Penn State vs. Ohio State women's basketball game at 6 p.m. today in the first round of the Big Ten women's tournament pits two teams against each other with entirely different outlooks on the tournament.

The Buckeyes (11-15, 3-13) toiled near the conference cellar all season, battling illness, injury and tough scheduling while trying to keep their heads above water. They lost several close games and, unlike the Lady Lions, are not tabbing this weekend's festivities in the RCA Dome as a chance to regain lost magic. For Buckeye coach Nancy Darsch and her squad, it is just a chance.

"Obviously, it has been a struggle for us only having three conference wins. We've tried to look at this as an opportunity for a new beginning or at least a new ending," Darsch said. "I think a win over Penn State would make us feel pretty good. I think it has been a very trying '97. They realize we have one weekend left and they can put all their energy into that."

But while Penn State may have higher aspirations, it is not looking past the Buckeyes.

"We've gotta go in and win Friday's game," Penn State coach Rene Portland said. "That's our intent, to have everybody leave it on the floor."

When the two teams met for the only time this season, Penn State not only left the Buckeyes on the floor but also in the dust. The Buckeyes could never get on track, and their prolific outside shooter Marcie Alberts was held to 12 points.

Penn State freshman point guard Helen Darling put on an offensive show, scoring 19 points, while senior point Tiffany Longworth connected on her 14 points in the second half to give Penn State an 83-66 victory.

"(Longworth) was the one who broke our back," Darsch said. "We keyed a lot on Potthoff and, since she was drawing so much attention, she chose to play a passive role, and other players stepped up. We have to play a five-player game."

A five-player game will mean that aside from containing Potthoff and Longworth, the Buckeyes must watch the speedy Shauntai Hall (18 points in first meeting) and center Andrea Garner (12 points, 13 rebounds in the first meeting).

Garner and Darling, along with Courtney Wicks and Marissa Graby, make up the Lady Lion freshman class that helped Penn State capture conference wins over Michigan State and Wisconsin last weekend. According to Portland, the underclassmen have assumed much of the team's responsibility.

"I think the freshmen are a real pleasant class. They're a great personality," Portland said. "When we lose they take it hard. They have taken some of the ownership of this program."

Penn State is young and with that comes a lack of experience. Only three Lady Lions -- Potthoff, Longworth, and Jamie Parsons -- were on the Penn State team that knocked off Ohio State in the 1995 Big Ten tournament championship game in Hinkle Fieldhouse.

To win a third straight Big Ten title, Penn State will need its new generation of Lady Lions to step to the forefront.

"I've been telling them it's a great weekend," Potthoff said. "They know it's hard work. We're going in with the right attitude to have fun."