In her first public appearance since settling a discrimination lawsuit, Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland said yesterday that she has completed sensitivity training as part of a university reprimand.

That's about all she said, though.

Portland refused to address anything pertaining to her legal matters, instead directing discussion to basketball -- the norm for her weekly press conferences.

"We are here for a press conference for basketball," Portland said. "I really don't know what's so hard about that for you to find out. The announcement is Lady Lions' basketball press conference. So we'll just stick to basketball."

On Monday, a press release said Penn State, athletic director Tim Curley and Portland had come to an "amicable" and confidential settlement with former Lady Lion Jen Harris, who claimed Portland discriminated against her on the basis of sexual orientation, gender and race.

An internal university investigation conducted last spring found Portland in violation of its anti-discrimination policy. Portland was fined $10,000 in lieu of a one-game suspension and was required to attend sensitivity training.

Penn State Sports Information Director Kris Petersen prefaced the press conference by saying that Portland would only be addressing basketball-related questions. Petersen also handed out a flier to each reporter before it began, directing media inquires regarding the lawsuit to two university spokesmen.

Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said the university has not made any statements in addi-

tion to Monday's press release. "We issued a statement, agreed upon by the NCLR [National Center for Lesbian Rights] a couple of days ago," he said.

Calls made to the second spokesman named, Steve MacCarthy, were referred to Mahon.

"Look, I think any of you who know me, know I have some thoughts, but obviously I can't go there," Portland said of how the lawsuit has affected her personally. "I'm not permitted to go there."

Members of the basketball team were not available to the media yesterday because they had the day off to rest. Asked if the players would be able to focus better with the legal matters completed, Portland moved swiftly forward.

"Next question, please," she said.

Portland, who has coached at Penn State for 27 years, is 603-232 and has taken Penn State to one Final Four. She's taken the program to 21 NCAA Tournaments and was named Big Ten Coach of the Years four times, but in recent years the program has slipped.

Last season, Penn State was 13-16, the first losing season in Portland's tenure. This season, Penn State is 12-12 and 5-6 in conference play.