At the start of the fall 2004 semester, if you asked sophomore forward Romana Vynuchalova how she pronounced her last name, she probably would not have been able to respond to your question.

For the 6-foot-4 native of Bratislava, Slovakia, the transition to the United States has not been an easy one. Barely understanding a word of English, she needed translators to commit to Penn State, a decision she made without ever seeing the campus. But that has changed.

"I didn't know anything about the Lady Lions when I came here last year," Vynuchalova said. "This year I'm like, 'OK, this is Penn State. I've been here before.' I kind of know what it takes."

Now a quarter of the way through her second year in Happy Valley, her role on the court has changed as well.

She is looking to crack the starting lineup permanently, after getting the opportunity she was not sure she'd have -- an opportunity given to her when junior Charity Renfro lost her starting spot for missing class. With only three players returning to the Lady Lions roster, Vynuchalova has her best chance to at least increase her playing time.

She has had a significant impact as well. In a double-overtime win over Texas Tech, she registered her first blocked shot of the season in the second extra frame, and then followed it up with a career-high 10-point, five-rebound, three-block performance Tuesday night against George Mason.

Such numbers pale in the comparison of other ones she has to put up.

With one-way plane tickets costing $3,500, she only gets home for winter break and summer. Dialing long distance isn't much of an option either.

"I wouldn't want to see her phone bills," Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland said.

Vynuchalova said she doesn't really get to call home much for that reason. The six-hour time difference assures that the cell phone bill will be kept relatively low.

"I'd have to be on the phone 10 hours a day to be in touch, so I don't really keep in touch with my family," she said. "I have my teammates and friends."

At least she has something she enjoys. She hates the food, and her basketball life is much more strict than it was on the other side of the Atlantic.

"Basketball is 30 to 40 hours a week here," she said. "It's like a full-time job."

As if adjusting to the culture shock was not enough, her acclimation to the American game has been just as difficult.

Like most European teams, Vynuchalova's team in Slovakia, Club Istrobanka, relied on roaming forwards to shoot from the outside, a la Dirk Nowitzki. In the States, however, forwards buckle down in the post to clean up the boards.

Because Vynuchalova came to the States very scrawny, it was very difficult for her to have an inside presence, so during the offseason she added size to her frame. That adjustment may have been helped along by the fact that she spent two months in Bratislava over the summer with home-cooked meals.

Vynuchalova needed to build on something, because she couldn't rely on her solid numbers as a freshman. She recorded just two points, three rebounds and one block in nine games last season.

"When she first came here, it's like, 'Okay she's a foreign player,' " junior captain Amanda Brown said. "Now she's beginning to look more like a Division I basketball player."

She has been at the four-spot on the floor, starting in the last three games. Running a two-forward, three-guard system, she has been around the foul line where the Lady Lions hope to utilize her talent on mid-range jumpers and as a passer.

Although such an impact has been limited in the early going of her career, the European native opted to come play college ball, not because she thought she could dominate, but because it was a practical choice.

American athletes come out of high school knowing what they want. They look to the top programs with a congenial coaching staff and an appealing campus.

For Vynuchalova, the situation was different. Portland's sister traveled to South Central Europe to recruit, along with a translator. Vynuchalova had never seen State College, relying only on hearsay and what the interpreter told her. Videos helped, too.

"We're able to show a crowd, a band, people painting their bodies," Portland said. "Why wouldn't you want to come here?"

Basketball was not even the main factor in her decision. Instead it gave her the opportunity to accomplish goals outside of the arena.

"I could have played for another club. Kelly Mazzante, she plays for the club I was supposed to play with," she said, alluding to the Penn State alum that holds the career Big Ten scoring record. "I wanted to study abroad, learn some English, and get an education. You can't play basketball forever."

Portland said the program had to ensure that she still had the eligibility to come to Penn State. The NCAA does not allow athletes to accept money or else they become professionals, upgrading from the amateur status required to play collegiate sports.

"She could not have accepted any money," Portland said. "I'm talking $20."

Today's international players also have to take the American SATs and qualify according to NCAA rules.

Despite her unimpressive numbers, Vynuchalova is one of the more experienced Lions on one of the youngest teams ever to don the blue and white, meaning she may have to help lead a team while speaking her second language, at least until Renfro is back in Portland's good graces.

She is still not accustomed to the changes of being a semi-veteran on a big-time program.

While doing an interview, talking about her reasons for coming to Penn State prior to the season, a photographer crossed her peripheral vision.

"I've never played in front of so many people," she said. "Penn State has so much pride here. I was like..."

She stopped answering, trying to pose by leaning back with an awkward smile. The photographer waited for the sophomore to resume the conversation. He gave up and snapped a picture, giving off a bright flash.

Vynuchalova, taken aback, tried unsuccessfully to regain her focus.

"Oh ... whoa," she said. "Can you repeat the question?"

Perhaps by the end of the year she'll be more accustomed to the limelight, but only if she can capitalize on this, her best chance to make an impact.

"This is my best opportunity," she said. "But I have to make it happen and work hard."

If not, at least she has English skills and an education to fall back on.