The Penn State women's basketball team is flying high.

The Lady Lions (13-8, 5-3 Big Ten) are coming off a convincing 63-49 win over Wisconsin on Sunday in which they knocked the Badgers from atop the Big Ten standings.

But although the Lions are feeling good heading into a three-game road trip, they must beware of their first road block ahead -- the Northwestern Wildcats.

"Character will be tested and we'll see how good we are," Lions' head coach Rene Portland said. "We have to be very wary of the Northwestern situation."

The Lions will invade the Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill., to take on the Wildcats (4-16, 0-9) tonight at 8.

It will be the second time the teams have faced off in seven days, as the Lions trounced Northwestern 84-49 last Thursday at The Bryce Jordan Center.

In that game, Penn State easily racked up points thanks to turnovers and two-on-one chances on the fast break.

"They killed us in transition," Northwestern head coach June Olkowski said of the previous matchup. "They took advantage of our youth when we turned the ball over."

The young Wildcats were also unable to control Lions' guard Kelly Mazzante last week, as the sophomore exploded for 24 points.

When Olkowski was asked in her weekly press conference how she intended to combat Mazzante this time, the coach quipped, "anybody got any suggestions?"

Few coaches in the Big Ten have had an answer to that question this season, as Mazzante leads the nation in scoring with 25.1 points per game.

Olkowski said that the key for her team tonight will be to slow down the rest of the Lions and their running game.

"If we can make them play half-court offense and Mazzante scores, what are you going to do?" Olkowski said.

"We can't give up transition buckets as much as we did."

For the Lions, tonight's game will indeed be a test of character as Portland alluded.

The Lions have been mediocre on the road this season and are 7-5 away from the Jordan Center. They put forth a lackluster effort in their last road game, a 66-62 loss to Michigan State in East Lansing.

Still, if history is any indication, this road trip should get off to a positive start for the Lions.

They have dominated Northwestern as of late, winning nine straight against the Wildcats, eight by 21 points or more.

Olkowski hopes her Wildcats team can put an end to that streak tonight, but she knows the task will not be an easy one.

"Our youth hurts us, our inexperience hurts us," Olkowski said. "But our kids are working hard, and that's all I can ask."