It was only four seconds into the game, and the Lady Lions already had their first layup attempt.

As soon as Nikki Greene won the opening tip-off, Penn State was off and running up the court against New Jersey Institute of Technology in Sunday's 79-57 victory.

In the team's first three games this season, the Lady Lions have been playing a much more fast-paced all-around game compared to past seasons.

"We're a very, very, very up-tempo team this year," Tyra Grant said. "A lot in the fast break opportunities and just recognizing you have only three, two or one defender back."

Splitting time between a half-court and an up-tempo offense throughout the first 13 minutes of the game on Sunday, Penn State found itself down eight points to the Highlanders.

Needing to make an adjustment, coach Coquese Washington abandoned the post play for the most part and the team began to run the floor and attack the rim to erase the deficit and take control of the game.

"We've got a lot more speed and a lot more athleticism at every position," Washington said. "In the backcourt and certainly at our forward position we're quicker."

Washington said freshman Marisa Wolfe and transfer Mia Nickson have added a lot of speed to this year's team, while returning players like Meredith Monroe and Julia Trogele worked on fitness a lot over the summer to become faster on the court.

This added quickness has not only helped the team on offense, but on defense as well.

"When we get up and play a more pressured defense we create turnovers," Washington said. "And I think we're pretty fast in transition. We get up the floor very quickly."

Although Washington recognizes the team is better when playing a fast-paced game, she said the team still has work to do to maximize its speed.

Having a freshman point guard in Alex Bentley, Washington said it will take time for her to adapt to leading an up-tempo offense like what the team wants to run.

Despite her youth, Bentley led the team with 16 points and nine assists in the victory against NJIT while running the point position, showing how successful she can be when leading the team.

Nevertheless, not every game has been like that for the freshman floor general, as she was shut down for zero points and only one assist in the team's other regular season game against Drexel.

"For her and Nikki [Greene] right now, the speed of the game is really fast, so I think Alex kind of slowed down so she could make her reads," said Washington after Bentley committed four turnovers and struggled in the exhibition opener against Indiana University (Pa.). "As she gets more comfortable, she'll do fine playing the pace we want to play."

In practice, Washington has the players constantly run drills over-and-over again to improve on the quick style of play she likes to run, Grant said.

While the team still works a lot on its half-court offense and playing at a slower pace, Washington knows what kind of intensity the team needs to play at to be successful.

"I think it's definitely our strength to play up-tempo," Washington said. "Now it's just learning the tempo and the speed that we want to play at."