One member of this team has already walked off this floor clutching a championship trophy in her arms, and now she hopes her team can experience the same feeling.
The No. 14 Penn State women's basketball (3-0) team will travel to take on No. 4 Kansas State (3-0) in the finals of the Women's Preseason National Invitation Tournament on Sunday, at 5 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum. Before worrying about that game, the Lady Lions will travel to meet Fairfield (0-0) tonight at 7 at the Arena at Harbor Yard in a tune-up.
Sunday's return to Kansas State will be a memorable one for Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland, who won one of her three national championships as a player with Immaculata College on that same floor nearly 29 years ago.
She hopes to lead her team to a championship victory of its own on Sunday.
"They want to win this tournament,"she said.
"This year they are really focused on their goals. They're seeing the bigger picture."
That picture is not solely winning the WNIT, but also a chance to knock off a highly touted Lady Wildcats squad. They are the highest-ranked team the Lions will face all season.
That is the reason why Portland scheduled this tournament, even though the Lions will be playing on the road.
"We purposely scheduled into this tournament this year," Portland said. "It's a great challenge for them and one that I'm happy they're rising to the occasion."
Coming off Wednesday's impressive victory over No. 20 Mississippi State, the Lions are ready to take the next step.
"This is a big step for us," All-America hopeful Kelly Mazzante said. "Now that we beat a top-25 team, we're ready to take the next step and beat a top-10 team."
Mazzante is the key to the Lions offense, but her 36 points against the Lady Bulldogs, did not win them the game. Rather, it was the double-double contribution of center Ashli Schwab, who also shut down the Bulldogs' best player (LaToya Thomas) and was a force in the low post, which enabled the Lions to cruise to victory.
"Ashli played an all-time big-time game," Portland said. "She held her own, more than her own."
An easy victory over the Wildcats is unlikely, because the team poses
numerous offensive threats for a young squad. Four players are averaging in double figures, led by forward Kendra Wecker's 21 points per game.
Although they won their semi-final match rather easily over the University of Southern California, the Wildcats committed 29 turnovers, something they must cut down against a Lions press that has given opponents fits this season.
Wednesday's victory was also historic for coach Deb Patterson, who notched her 100th career victory. However, Portland can do her a couple times better if the Lions win both games this weekend. Two more victories would give Portland 600 for her career.
Sunday's game could possibly be the toughest game of the year thus far for the Lions, but a victory will prove that they belong among the nation's elite.
