If Saturday gave the Penn State women's track team a glimpse of where they stand in the Big Ten, it liked what it saw.

The Nittany Lions defeated three out of four teams, one of which was Big Ten rival Purdue, in Saturday's Doug Raymond Invitational.

Penn State piled up a second-place score of 167, seven less than host Kent State and nine points more than Purdue.

This weekend's meet followed last Saturday's win at home in the U.S. Coaches Association Meet.

Although the team did not win this Saturday's meet, the fact that it contained harder competition made it a positive meet for the team.

"It was great," Penn State coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "There was great competition and it was very exciting. The score was tight between all five teams through the entire meet."

A large portion of that competition came from conference rival Purdue. The Boilermakers finished fourth in the Big Ten last indoor season.

Finishing ahead of the Purdue in this meet is a big step for the Nittany Lions, who placed eighth last year in the Big Ten.

"It feels really good," senior Laila Brock said. "It lets us know we are better than last season.

"It is good for the team's confidence."

Even though the finish was big for the team, the members will not allow it to go to their heads said junior Deshaya Williams.

"I think it feels good, but it is not a determining factor," Williams said.

"We'll take it, but not over use it. As long as we keep getting stronger we may be able to move up the Big Ten ladder."

Brock and Williams both had good finishes in the meet, although Brock's came in different events than they usually do.

The runner who focuses on the 400-meter dash ran both the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter dash instead of the 400.

Alford-Sullivan and Brock said that the change in races was made in order to help Brock get some speed work in for future 400-meter dashes.

"We did it to get some speed work in," Brock said.

"It was to get my body firing a little faster so I can transfer it into the 400."

Brock finished sixth in the 60-meter dash and third in the 200-meter dash while Williams posted a victory in the shot put and a third-place finish in the weight throw.

Other Nittany Lions had strong meets as well. Connie Moore scored a victory in the 200-meter dash.

Second-place finishes were taken by Moore in the 60-meter dash, Kris Phillips in the 3,000-meter run, Toyin Augustus in the 60-meter high hurdles and Jen Alyward in the high jump.

Moore's success Saturday comes following her record-setting performance in last weekend's home meet.

"This is an exciting time for her," Alford-Sullivan said.

"She needs to keep herself patient and poised to learn through the season."

Penn State will be home this weekend as it hosts the National Open on Friday and Saturday.