Freshman Nikki Greene isn't used to the snow.

She isn't used to playing a near 30-game schedule either.

The freshman is going to need to adjust to both quickly as the Lady Lions' 2009-10 season looms with an exhibition game against Indiana (Pa.) on Nov. 8.

With so many freshmen expected to play such a pivotal role on this year's team, how well they adjust to the rigors of a longer collegiate schedule will help determine how much success the team has this year.

"When we get to the Big Ten season, their season in high school would be over and we're still playing," coach Coquese Wash-ington said. "So they'll have to finish the season."

Last month's early snowfall was something new for Greene as she recalls her teammates getting into a snowball fight after practice.

Coming from a small high school in Diboll, Texas, Greene said she got maybe a centimeter of snow back home.

This much practice is new to her too.

For the freshmen who are expected to help dictate Penn State's success, this will be the first time most of them have played such a long season.

For instance, Greene's high school, Diboll, plays its last regular season game of the season in the beginning of February.

This year, Greene will still be going toe-to-toe with the top players in the Big Ten when she normally would be hanging up her shoes and cleaning out her locker.

Greene said compared to high school basketball, playing at such a high level for six months in college is a much more serious thing, and she has been preparing herself for the change.

Nevertheless, past Lady Lions have stepped up to the challenge and made an immediate impact with the team.

Senior Tyra Grant made a smooth transition from high school to college when she was a freshman, leading the team with 14.6 points per game.

However, she said such a long season can get very tiring and a certain amount of dedication and will is needed to keep going.

"It never ends, so that's always different," she said. "With high school, you have a couple months and then you're done. If you don't go into AAU [Amateur Athletic Union] season and things like that, then you won't go year round. For college, it's a lot higher-intensity practice, conditioning, preseason, postseason."

Nevertheless, the young players are up to the challenge.

"The more games, the more fun you're having and the more experience you're getting on the court," freshman Alex Bentley said.