After fielding her second question about Ohio State star Jessica Davenport, Penn State Lady Lions assistant coach Susan Robinson-Fruchtl decided that was enough talk about the Buckeyes.

Even with a game against No. 7 Ohio State looming on Sunday, Robinson-Fruchtl carefully diverted the attention back to Northwestern.

It's a technique she hopes the Lady Lions (11-14, 5-9 Big Ten) will use when they host Northwestern (6-19, 2-12) at 7 tonight.

All season, the Penn State coaching staff has stressed the importance of taking the season one game at a time, and, even with two regular season games left, it hasn't broken stride.

"If you look at our record," Robinson-Fruchtl said, "we have no business looking ahead to anybody."

After Penn State beat Northwestern by 43 -- count 'em -- 43 points at Northwestern earlier this season, common knowledge says the Lady Lions shouldn't be afraid of the Wildcats, but that's not the case.

After registering their first losing record in Big Ten play ever, the Lady Lions aren't overlooking anyone, not even a Northwestern team that's consistently been the Big Ten softie.

"We played great out there when we were out there earlier in the year, but we can't take them lightly," Robinson-Fruchtl said. "They have played a lot better this second round of the Big Ten. They've almost beaten some people. I mean, they took Illinois, they probably should have beaten them. So we have to come to play from the beginning of both halves on Thursday night."

The notion of playing two complete halves is something that should be fresh in the Lady Lions' minds.

In its last game, an injury-riddled Penn State team played Wisconsin well in the first half, taking a two-point halftime lead, but was outscored by 12 in a lackluster second half on its way to its third loss in four games.

The return of junior forward Charity Renfro, who missed that game with a concussion and broken nose, should help a Penn State squad that dressed just eight players against Wisconsin.

With the Big Ten Tournament less than two weeks away, a strong finish could mean the difference between facing the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the tournament. If Penn State finished at No. 7, it would potentially face the No. 2 seed in the second round as opposed to the No. 1 seed if it finished at No. 8 or 9.

In most years, Northwestern and Penn State go in entirely different directions. Penn State travels to the NCAA Tournament while Northwestern returns home to focus on the next year. This year, though, both teams are in a rebuilding mode. It's something Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland hasn't had to face too often.

However, Northwestern women's basketball coach Beth Combs, now in her second year rebuilding the Wildcats, said she's in no place to offer any suggestions.

"I have absolutely no right to give Rene Portland any advice," Combs said earlier this season. "She's a legend. I'm in no place to give anybody advice."

Even with the possibility that Penn State may face Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, Robinson-Fruchtl continued to keep the focus on tonight's game, saying Penn State wouldn't hold anything back.

"This late in the season you have to bring your 'A' game regardless," Robinson-Fruchtl said. "There's no tomorrow with each game."