At this time last year, nobody would have guessed that junior forward Amanda Brown and sophomore guard Kamela Gissendanner would be the Lady Lions' captains this year.

After all, Brown, the oldest returning player on this year's team, averaged only 7.2 points per game last year, and Gissendanner sat out all of last year after transferring from North Carolina State in 2004.

But with no seniors on the team, two players had to emerge as leaders, and after impressive performances last night, the unlikely duo of Brown and Gissendanner earned their C's.

The two scored points by the bucket-full -- 24 each to be exact -- and virtually could not be contained in a Penn State victory against Iowa. In one seven-minute stretch, Gissendanner and Brown scored 18 straight points for the Lady Lions before sophomore guard Adrienne Squire finally hit a jumper, proving that Penn State was not just a Gissendanner and Brown display.

In that span, Gissendanner dished out five assists to her fellow captain. Her only other assist on the night also was to Brown.

"It was just flowing tonight," Gissendanner said. "When things are flowing and your shots are hitting, it's easy to play 40 minutes."

On one play, Gissendanner beautifully faked a shot, before sending a quick pass through the lane to a waiting Brown who easily finished the 2-point play.

For much of the night, the two played pitch and catch, running over an Iowa defense that offered no answers.

"We've noticed all season we work well together," Brown said.

"She looks for me, I look for her within offenses. We look for each other, which is understandable. In practice, we look for each other."

While Gissendanner caused Iowa havoc with her beautiful jumpers and crisp passing, Brown consistently grabbed rebounds. Her 11 boards were a game high and gave Brown her third double-double of the season and sixth of her career.

"Amanda Brown was outstanding," Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder said.

"That's the player I thought we just didn't have an answer for."

After playing less than a minute in the first half in Sunday's win against Northwestern because of two early fouls, Brown stayed out of foul trouble, and her extended presence on the floor fueled the Lady Lions' inside game. With Brown finding open shots around the basket, Penn State outscored the Hawkeyes 26-12 in the paint.

And even if nobody would have expected it last year, Gissendanner and Brown have paced the Lady Lions' offense all year; Gissendanner's 16.1 points per game and Brown's 15.3 currently lead Penn State. Brown has also pulled down 7.2 rebounds per game.

"It came together real well tonight," Brown said.