Portland wins 400th as team upsets Wisconsin

The last three weeks were no vacation for the Penn State women's basketball team.

With five games over winter break, including the opening of their Big Ten season, the Lady Lions had few opportunities to relax. However, with a 4-1 record during the break, the holiday season brought a fair share of joy to the team.

On Dec. 21, Penn State traveled to New Jersey to face a Seton Hall team that was 2-4 at the time. The Lions became the fifth blemish on the Pirates' record, holding Seton Hall to just 36 percent shooting from the field as they took a 71-55 win.

Penn State had a good night offensively. The team placed four of its players in double figures, including guard Christine Portland, who led the Lions with 16 points.

The win over Seton Hall closed Penn State's open season, and the team entered Big Ten play at 6-3 and on a two-game winning streak.

That streak was extended a week later in dramatic fashion. Opening their Big Ten season at home against No. 8 Wisconsin, the Lions stunned the Badgers 86-71.

Down by three at the half, Penn State opened the second stanza with an 11-2 run. The Lions never looked back as they outscored Wisconsin 47-29 in the second half to seal the win.

Adding to the game's significance, the win was Penn State coach Rene Portland's 400th as coach of the Lions. In 18 seasons at Penn State, Portland has won more games than any other basketball coach, men's or women's, at the University.

Two days later, Penn State hosted a 6-5 Michigan State team rebuilding from last season's Big Ten tri-championship. Despite a spirited challenge from the young Spartans, the Lions extended their winning streak to four games with a 65-60 win.

Penn State, which led by as many as 13, nearly allowed the game to slip through its fingers. Michigan State narrowed the deficit to two with 36 seconds to play. The Lions jumped back out to a four-point lead when Helen Darling converted on two free throws, but a three-pointer by Donita Johnson brought the Spartans to within a point of the lead.

That was the closest Michigan State would get, as Penn State converted four more free throws in the game's waning seconds to take the five-point win.

The Lions were led by freshman Lisa Shepherd, who scored a career-high 22 points off the bench. Jamie Wesley led the Spartans with 13 and Kristen Rasmussen set a Bryce Jordan Center record with 20 rebounds.

On Jan. 2, Penn State looked to begin the new year with a win as it hosted a highly-touted Iowa team. Portland said her team failed to capitalize on opportunities and wilted under the pressure of the Hawkeyes, and the Lions saw their winning streak halted as they fell 78-69.

After a rough start, Penn State fought back to tie the game at the midway point of the second half. The Hawkeyes, refusing to fold, picked up the pace and left the Lions behind, leading by as many as 15 before settling for the nine-point win.

Penn State, which shot 41 percent from the field, was once again lead by Shepherd, who had 20 points.

Two days later, in their fifth game of the break, the Lions attempted to bounce back as they traveled to Ann Arbor to face a 10-3 Michigan squad. In a see-saw battle that went into overtime, Penn State improved its Big Ten record to 3-1 with an 85-84 win.

With 36 seconds left in overtime, senior guard Jamie Parsons sank two free throws to put the Lions ahead by one. They held on from that point, as Michigan's Anne Thomas missed a final shot at the buzzer.

Garner's 25 points led Penn State, and the Wolverines were paced by Pollyanna Johns' 18 points.