Penn State also recognized senior Stacey Brewer, who missed the entire season with a severe back injury.

It was an important win on many counts for the Lions. First, it guaranteed Penn State either the second or third seed in the conference tournament. It also erased the bad memories of Penn State's last Senior Day, a 67-59 stumble against Michigan.

"I think the kids remember that. That was a real disappointment for the kids when they lost (last Senior Day)," coach Rene Portland said. "It was the first time we had ever lost on Senior Day. It was neat to hear the kids talk about it."

The loss also helped relieve some of the pain stemming from a heartbreaking 76-74 loss against Purdue on Friday.

"You talk about character," Portland said. "When you lose a game that you really want bad, it's not the end of the season. We have to remember who and what we represent and what our goals are."

Arguably, no two players currently on the Lions' roster have shown more character in their fight for playing time than Carter and Portland.

Carter, whose collegiate career started far away from Happy Valley at Kilgore Junior College in Kilgore, Texas, recorded a double-double Sunday. Her 11 points and 14 rebounds -- nine of which came in the first half -- were a welcome change for Carter, who had been struggling over her last five games.

During that stretch, the forward from Utica, N.Y., averaged just four points per game and saw the floor for just 14 minutes against the Boilermakers last Friday.

Coach Portland said Carter wrestled all week with the specter of her career nearing an end and the uncertain future that would follow.

Carter put those feelings aside for one game, causing the Golden Gophers to worry as much Sunday as she had been for the past week.

"It's definitely been a great experience," Carter said. "I've enjoyed working with all the girls. I'm especially going to miss the bond we had between the starters, because we worked really hard together."

The tears in Christine Portland's eyes as she hugged her mother, and coach, before the game explained fully what Senior Day meant to her.

A former mop-up girl at the Lions' former home in Rec Hall during her pre-Penn State days, Portland spent her first two seasons in a Lion uniform playing only mop-up time. She cracked the starting lineup last season and led the team with a 36-percent success rate from behind the 3-point arc. Although she has struggled offensively this season, Portland has still made a mark in the leadership department.

Junior point guard Helen Darling said she will miss the intangibles that both Carter and Portland bring to the table.

"I'm going to miss both of them for different reasons," Darling said. "I love working with Clara, because she's so aggressive and she just hustles after everything. And I'm going to miss Christine's leadership on the floor."