Weary lady cagers heading into crucial conference matchups

After three consecutive losses, the tired and wobbling Penn State women's basketball team will try to stop the bleeding.

This weekend, the Lady Lions (10-7, 4-3 Big Ten) will get that opportunity as they face two unheralded conference foes. At 7 p.m. today in Minneapolis, Penn State faces an unpredictable Minnesota team. Sunday, the team will return home to face a young Ohio State squad in a 2 p.m. contest at The Bryce Jordan Center.

In her weekly teleconference yesterday, Penn State coach Rene Portland said the two games are must-wins.

"These two are conference," she said. "You have to keep your eyes on the prize, and what's the prize? The conference."

- Rene Portland, Lady Lion basketball coach

"These two games are a must on character and pride," Portland said, "and if they pull these out, you have to take your hat off to these kids."

The Lion coach said her team could be without reserves Clara Carter and Chrissy Falcone. Neither practiced yesterday as a result of a shoulder injury to Falcone and an eye injury to Carter, both of which occurred Wednesday night. Portland said both were being evaluated by doctors in Minnesota and she wasn't certain if they could play this weekend.

However, Portland said a lack of depth is will be no excuse this weekend.

Portland also stressed the fact that her team's three losses came against ranked opponents and are no reason for her players to lose confidence.

"I think you have to put (the losses) in their place with a young team like this," Portland said. "I think to rebuild their confidence you have to show them what they've done to get their confidence back."

With a record of 4-13 and 1-6 in the Big Ten, Minnesota is a team also trying to stay confident.

Former Alabama assistant Cheryl Littlejohn took over as head coach of the Gophers this season, hoping to rebuild a Minnesota team that won four games last year. Although the Gophers have equaled that total, Littlejohn is still disappointed.

"I think the most important thing is you got to lay the facts on the table and see we've got to do a better job," Littlejohn said. "I don't think we've made much progress in the last two months."

In an effort to find a combination that works, Littlejohn has repeatedly shuffled her lineup. Portland said this makes Minnesota a difficult team to scout, but Penn State hopes to rely on its defense to win.

"We really don't know who is going to play," Portland said. "We certainly have to go out and make a defensive statement to go help ourselves."

Ohio State is another young team with a new head coach. Unlike Littlejohn, however, Buckeye coach Beth Burns has been successful.

Burns inherited a young team that went 12-16 last season but has started off at 11-5 (4-3 Big Ten.)

"Early in the season it was very scary as to the potential we had on this team," Burns said. "So in that respect, we've exceeded ourselves."

The Buckeyes have a pair of aces up their sleeves in junior forwards Larecha Jones and Marrita Porter. Jones and Porter have carried Ohio State all season, ranking fourth and seventh in the conference in scoring, respectively.

"We're certainly concerned with both of them," Portland said. "They've done well with their inside game, but if we press we can make things happen with their guards."