All season, the Penn State Lady Lions have struggled with youth -- but usually it doesn't come from the visitor's bench.

Penn State, a team with no seniors, struggled to beat a Michigan squad that started four freshmen, 78-62, last night at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Michigan (6-16, 0-10 Big Ten) ran out to a 12-point lead just six minutes behind two 3-pointers from freshman guard Jessica Minnfield and another from sophomore guard Janelle Cooper.

But while the young Michigan players started strong, their youth eventually showed, as they made several freshman mistakes, allowing Penn State (10-11, 3-6) to roll to a 41-31 halftime lead.

With such a young team, Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland might have been able to sympathize with Michigan women's basketball coach Cheryl Burnett, but she said that's not the case.

"Absolutely not. We're in the same boat," she said. "Big whoop. I have one junior, and she doesn't have any. We have the same team."

Ten minutes into the second half, a Katie Dierdorf layup pulled Michigan within six points, but that's as close as it would get.

Adrienne Squire paced the Lady Lions, knocking down three treys in the second half, finishing with a game-high 21 points.

The loss is Michigan's 10th straight, but Dierdorf said the team has kept a positive attitude.

The Lady Lions will have a tougher task to finish their weekend homestand, as they will play Big Ten leader No. 8 Purdue at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Boilermakers (17-3, 9-1) beat Penn State handily, 70-56, Jan. 19 in West Lafayette, but haven't won at Penn State since 1998.

With its win tonight, Penn State has won three straight at home.

Purdue lost in overtime to Iowa, 77-71, last night.