Two overtimes didn't give the Penn State women's basketball team much of a break on Sunday, and the season isn't taking a long intermission between games, either. But in a way, that isn't a bad thing.

After defeating Texas Tech in double overtime on Sunday, the Lady Lions had a little more than 12 hours until practice at 6 a.m. yesterday. After shooting around, and then going to class, the team set off for George Mason University at 3:30 p.m.

"They need to do something about the number of games that are being played in November and December by basketball teams across the country. It really is crazy," Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland said.

Yet so far, the smushed-together schedule has equaled a quick revival for the Lady Lions (3-3). After starting the season 0-2 at home, Penn State has a chance to go above .500 against the Patriots (3-3) at 7 tonight in Fairfax, Va.

As far as getting up early for practice, it's easier preparing in the wee hours of the morning when the players have a good reason not to be cranky.

"It's easy going at 6 o'clock this morning after a win," Portland said.

The Lady Lions' confidence has been building since their win vs. Pittsburgh on Friday, 69-60, where Penn State picked up its first win at home. On Sunday, Penn State was able to get a win over a ranked team, the then-No. 24 Lady Raiders, in a thrilling double-overtime affair, 78-72.

In neither of those games did Penn State have freshman guard Mashea Williams in the lineup. Williams was the starting two-guard prior to a right knee sprain that will force her to sit out her third consecutive game.

"She won't travel with us," Portland said. "I hope we'll at least do that walkthrough that I want to do when she practices Thursday, and then she'll be ready to go on Friday. A lot is, 'I'm scared. I've never been hurt before.' "

While Williams has dealt with her own misfortune, the rest of the Lady Lions have been busy regaining their own mental stability. Thinking back to the first two home games of the season vs. Duke and Villanova, Portland remembers the feeling of being just about the only team on campus that wasn't winning.

After the first week of the basketball season, the Penn State football, soccer and volleyball teams had secured Big Ten titles.

"Some people might not address that, but this coach addressed that," Portland said. "Football wins, volleyball wins, soccer wins and Lady Lions lost."

The George Mason game last December gives the Lady Lions a glimpse of the tradition Portland preaches. In that game, the Lady Lions held the Patriots and their triangle offense to 21.5 percent shooting, thumping George Mason, 76-48.

On the way, Portland still has to do her "homework" in scouting the opponent, because that was the second game of the season she missed because of medical reasons. Penn State women's basketball associate head coach Annie Troyan took the lead in her absence.

The Patriots are still led by senior guard Jen Daniels with her 10.3 points and 2.7 assists per game. The rest of the team is composed of six freshmen, six sophomores and three juniors. Junior forward Tracy Ann Holness leads the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game.

This year, though Penn State will have to take its two-game winning streak to the road, winning at home still has the team rapidly heading in the right direction.

"Control and winning in the Jordan Center is well documented as one of our pride items," Portland said. "And that certainly got us back on the track we need to be on."