Lady Lions' assistant leaves for St. Francis

Penn State women's basketball assistant coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl was selected to lead the St. Francis (Pa.) Red Flash women's basketball program yesterday, St. Francis Athletic Director Bob Krimmel announced. Robinson Fruchtl will be introduced at a press conference in the Stokes-Twyman Room of DeGol Arena at 11 a.m. today.

"First of all, I'm very excited to become a part of the Red Flash family and I'm thrilled to get my first head coaching opportunity at Saint Francis," said Robinson Fruchtl.

"I understand the tradition and success that the program has had and I want to get back to that, uphold it and build on it."

Robinson Fruchtl just completed her third-straight season and her eighth overall as a Lady Lion assistant coach. Robinson Fruchtl rejoined the team in May of 2004 after serving as an assistant from 1993 to 1998 and worked with the post players, as well as assisting in recruiting.

Under Robinson Fruchtl, post players Ashli Schwab and Amanda Brown ranked among Big Ten leaders in rebounds and field goal percentage in 2005. Robinson Fruchtl was also instrumental in helping Brown garner All-Big Ten accolades each of the last two seasons, including a first-team appearance this season.

Lions' game vs. Akron will not be made up

The Penn State softball team's doubleheader against Akron scheduled for 3 p.m. yesterday was canceled due to rain. The game will not be made up.

The pair of rainouts marked the seventh and eighth cancellations of the 2007 season for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State returns to action for its final home weekend with games against Indiana at 6 tomorrow evening and noon Saturday followed by a Sunday doubleheader against conference rival Purdue, which also starts at noon.

The Lions are 22-18 (3-5 Big Ten) after splitting Tuesday's doubleheader against Bucknell. The upset was the Bison's first win over Penn State in nine years.