While most Penn State students are looking forward to a relaxing winter break, the Penn State women's basketball team knows that the weeks ahead will not be easy.

Coming off a 84-80 loss against No. 23 Old Dominion last night, the Lady Lions will head south to take on Maryland at 2 p.m. tomorrow in College Park, Md. Then, after a weeklong break for final exams, the Lions will play eight more games before classes resume on Jan. 7.

The Terrapins (4-2) are a team on the bubble, narrowly missing out on a Top 25 ranking. But given their veteran starting lineup, the Terps are sure to pose a test for head coach Rene Portland's young squad. Led by senior guard Marché Stickland (11.2 points per game) and senior forward Deedee Warley (13.3 ppg), Portland is concerned about her inexperienced Lions' ability to guard against the Terps' three-point shooting.

In last night's loss, the Lions also had trouble handling the Lady Monarchs' defensive pressure, and a repeat in their upset loss to Villanova on Nov. 16, the Lions allowed 13 three-pointers as the Wildcats seemed at times to be scoring at will. A repeat performance by the defense this weekend could destroy the team's hopes of meeting an early-season goal.

"I said to the kids 'what do you want to be before Christmas?' and they want to be in the top 15 before Christmas," Portland said.

A top 15 ranking would certainly be a pleasant surprise under the Lions' Christmas tree this holiday season. But it will not be easy to attain, as Portland said both the Lady Monarchs and the Terrapins have similar strengths.

"I think both of them are very athletic," Portland said. "Both of them have great inside games, and an emphasis on that."

Looking ahead, the Lions will take on intrastate rival Pitt on Dec. 16 and Clemson on Dec. 18, with both games taking place at The Bryce Jordan Center. Then they will have another important face-off in Austin as they take on the No. 17 Texas Longhorns on Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m. The youthful Lions will again have their mettle tested against a ranked opponent, but Portland said her young players are not about to run and hide from the big guns of college basketball.

"We don't back down because they are young," Portland said. "I do think (the players) believe chemistry is the answer and they have worked very hard to stay together."

That same chemistry and team play will be crucial as the Lions open their Big Ten schedule with a road contest against Minnesota on Dec. 28 in Minneapolis, followed by a home game against Ohio State on Dec. 30.

The Lions will begin 2002 by taking on St. Francis on Jan. 2 in Loretto, Pa. Then, in what could be their biggest game of the first half of the season, the Lions head to Nashville, Tenn. to take on Vanderbilt on Jan. 5. The Commodores are currently ranked third in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, and the matchup will be nationally televised on CBS at noon.

When Penn State students return to State College for the beginning of the spring semester on Jan. 7, the Lions will be in Champaign to take on Big Ten rival Illinois at 7 p.m. By that time, the Lions hope to be well on their way to another NCAA Tournament appearance.