I don't understand what a derivative is. I have no clue as to how the Pythagorean Theorem is significant or has changed my life in anyway, besides helping to lower my grade-point average. And if I can't do a problem on my 1979 Texas Instruments adding machine, then it is not even worth my time to figure out.

I live in a world where mathematics is virtually irrelevant.

And apparently, Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland lives in the same world that I do -- a world in which numbers are ignored.

In the Lady Lions' 74-66 victory against Michigan on Jan. 17, Portland was faced with this equation: one point + two assists + three rebounds + four turnovers = ?

Portland's answer to this problem -- 35 minutes of playing time for guard and daughter Christine Portland, more than any other Lion.

In the essence of Christine's "1-2-3-4" Sesame Street box score at Michigan, coach Portland's answer to this problem deserved to be in the ever-popular game created by the minds at the Children's Television Workshop.

Because in coach Portland's equation, "One of these things just doesn't belong here."

Despite the relative ineffectiveness of Christine's play in Ann Arbor, Mich., and the fact that little-used backup guard Chrissy Falcone had scored nine points to spark the Lions to a 40-31 halftime lead they would never relinquish, Falcone would spend the entire second half watching from the bench.

Despite the fact that Lion guard Lisa Shepherd connected on 3 of 4 3-point attempts, further padding her lead as Penn State's premier 3-point specialist, she only played 16 minutes.

And despite the fact that Portland was the Lions' lowest scorer in their eight-point win, she was the one who graced the Crisler Arena crowd with her presence more than any other Penn State player.

In three other occasions, Portland's night at Michigan could have been considered an offensive explosion. In those instances -- games against Illinois, Seton Hall and San Diego State -- Portland was held scoreless.

This past Sunday, the numbers were just too much for coach Portland to ignore anymore, and for the first time in 51 games, she benched her daughter.

"We had to sit back and look at what was good for her and what was good for Lisa (Shepherd)," Portland said. "It was a good decision for both of the players."

And in the Lions' 95-48 win Sunday against Indiana, it appeared that decision was not only good for Shepherd and Christine but for the entire team in general.

For the first time all season, Portland was not under the microscope of being the Lions' starter who happened to be related to the coach. And for perhaps the first time in her career in blue and white, she looked liked she was comfortable with her role.

Off the bench, Portland scored seven points, but more importantly started to look to shoot and tried to create offensive opportunities not only for herself, but for her teammates as well. No longer was she apprehensive about making a mistake.

Gone were the shackles of being a starter.

And for the first time in a year and a half, Christine Portland was able to do what Christine Portland does best.

She was a leader, she found ways to contribute and she could finally start to play again.

It appears 18 games into the regular season, coach Portland has found an answer that equates into her Lions' playing to their fullest potential.

It's an answer so clear that the use of an ancient adding machine isn't even necessary.