Sophomore guard Jen Harris was informed Sunday that she and two other players would not be part of the 2005-06 Penn State women's basketball team.

Coach Rene Portland told her team following its loss to Liberty in the first round of the NCAA tournament Sunday that three players would not be returning to the team, according to Pearl Harris, who was informed of the situation by her daughter Jen Harris.

Portland could not be reached for comment last night.

The three guards met with Portland individually in the team's hotel and were then told they would be dismissed, Pearl Harris said.

The Patriot-News (Harrisburg) is reporting in today's editions that the other two players were Lisa Etienne and Amber Bland, and that Etienne confirmed the sequence of events. Etienne also told The Patriot-News that she is not currently exploring a transfer and plans to meet with Penn State coaches to discuss her future with the program.

Penn State Assistant Sports Information Director Erin Whiteside told The Patriot-News that the status of the three players had not officially changed. Whiteside could not be reached by The Daily Collegian late last night for comment. Etienne told the Collegian last night that she could not comment on the situation.

Amber Bland could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Jen Harris said that she would not comment on her dismissal until she received permission from the Penn State athletics department to speak to coaches of other Division I women's basketball programs, should she decide to pursue a transfer.

Pearl Harris said her daughter was not seeking a transfer or a release for a transfer.

"She is not requesting to be released," Pearl Harris said. "And she is not requesting to transfer at this time."

Harris would be the team's returning leading scorer next season, averaging 10.4 points per game this year.

Harris started the first 22 games of her sophomore season with the Lady Lions and provided a viable third scoring option with Tanisha Wright and Jess Strom this year. Against Illinois on Jan. 13 at the Bryce Jordan Center, Harris turned in a career-high 26 points.

Portland removed Harris from the starting lineup before the Feb. 10 game against Indiana and her production waned coming off the bench.

Collegian staff writer Justin Kunkel contributed to this report.