The post-game press conference said it all, really. Without actually saying anything at all.

The players -- Jess Strom, Tanisha Wright and Jess Brungo -- were thoughtful, almost distant, as they fielded questions from the media, as if they'd already forgotten about their 80-68 dismantling of Purdue and were already focused on the next game.

The coach, Rene Portland, had on a face-wide smile, and her eyes were shining in a way they haven't in a long time.

The Lady Lions have taken the next step, and they know it.

Last night's game doesn't mark any major milestones, other than the Lions upping their home winning streak to a Bryce Jordan Center record 16 games.

It shouldn't create too much of a stir in the national rankings -- No. 9 Purdue will likely fall out of the Top 10, No. 12 Penn State will likely slide into it -- and the Lions, with four games left, still have the conference title far from wrapped up.

But last night was significant because it was big-time women's basketball at its best, the biggest stage this team has played on since last year's Regional Semifinal against Connecticut.

And without a doubt, Penn State responded.

The game had some of everything -- fans of all ages screaming, mainly at the officials, who turned in a less-than-perfect game and were booed off the floor at halftime.

It had drama -- four ties and four lead changes in an 84-point first half.

It saw big games from star players -- 24 points from Purdue's Shereka Wright - and from role players - 23 from Penn State's Brungo. There was even a double technical, the rarest of rarities in the women's game.

"Any of these 9,000 people that came out on a bad night saw a great basketball game," Portland said.

Penn State-Purdue is the best rivalry in the conference, and last night was a perfect example of why.

The Lions saw that the Boilermakers were game and looked them in the eyes without flinching.

Penn State played with a sense of purpose from the opening tip to the final minute, when Kelly Mazzante and Brungo hit the floor to fight for a loose ball.

The Lions delivered to the crowd the game it had hoped for, the battle for first place between two familiar foes. Purdue, behind Wright and point guard Erika Valek, held its ground for a half.

But on this night, in this building, the Lions would not be denied.

They had an answer for everything the Boilers threw at them, holding them to just 28 points in the second half as they slowly pulled away.

"When you have Purdue and Penn State, obviously the home court's been playing big in both the past couple years," Purdue coach Kristy Curry said.

"Give them credit tonight. Give Rene and her staff credit. If I'm ever happy for a group, it's for them. I just hate it when it's against us."

The series -- now 10-7 in favor of the Lions -- should only get better. Purdue will graduate just one regular player -- starting center Mary Jo Noon.

Penn State returns its entire roster.

All week long, the team had talked about the last meeting, when Purdue beat the Lions 73-66 in West Lafayette.

Talked about the 2000 Penn State team, the last group to wrest the Big Ten title from the Boilers' iron grasp.

The Lions knew what last night's game meant going in, and they now know what the outcome means.

"As we said to our players, it was 9 against 12, it was going to be nip-and-tuck," Portland said.

"It was not going to be a pushover. You're at home -- use this crowd, make them make a statement."

Last night, it wasn't the crowd that made the statement.