The Penn State women's basketball team kicks off its 2002 season tonight with a first round matchup against its intrastate rival Bucknell in the preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament.

Tonight's matchup is the first time both teams have participated in WNIT competition.

The Lady Lions enter the game coming off a win last weekend in exhibition play against the Melbourne Tigers.

Bucknell begins the season coming off the team's most successful year after winning the Patriot League conference title and receiving a bid to play in the NCAA tournament.

The Bisons' appearance in the preseason WNIT represents the first time a Patriot League team has competed in the tournament.

"To start off with a tournament at the beginning of the season should be nice for us," Penn State guard Tanisha Wright said.

"Win ugly, win nice, and that's the goal, to win the tournament."

The winner of tonight's game will play Sunday against the winner of the Siena vs. Syracuse game also held tonight, at Siena.

-Rob Riva