The team was just a train wreck waiting to happen.

Critics said they would never make it through this season with so few players.

With only 10 players on the roster, the Penn State women's basketball team has received some valuable contributions from its bench players, elevating the Lady Lions to first place in the Big Ten and No. 13 nationally.

Despite the slim numbers, the play from the bench has been an invaluable asset for the Lady Lions.

"It is my choice to have only quality players," Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland said.

"I can't keep 15 girls happy. Our situation evolved from injuries and the conditioning push from the beginning of the season."

At the beginning of the season, the Lions lost forward Courtney Upshaw, who left the team for personal reasons.

Because of this, the team played with only four players on the bench for the remainder of 2002, not able to even play with a full court for intersquad scrimmages.

At the start of 2003, the roster was brought back up to 10 players with the addition of walk-on freshman Burcu Turan.

"To me, coach Portland and her staff do as well as anyone in the country in preparation," Purdue women's basketball coach Kristy Curry said.

"They just do a great job. They know how to use their personnel well."

The most noticeable contribution has been Hazel Joseph, who has replaced Ashli Schwab in the starting lineup after Schwab's stress fracture injury sidelined her for an indefinite amount of time.

The coaching staff originally had plans to redshirt Joseph before the season, but are now thankful that idea fell through.

As a starter, she has averaged 10 rebounds per game in her last two games. "This kid just gave incredible hours in the training room," Portland said.

"She needs a bag of ice after every practice. She's working really hard, it's not easy for her. We just had to keep her very focused because she's a young sophomore."

Other players coming off the bench, including Melanie Croser and Jen Brenden, have added to the overall depth of the Lions' roster.

Brenden leads the team in three-point percentage, hitting 47 percent from beyond the arch and averaging 5.6 points per game. She typically steps in for Kelly Mazzante.

Croser, who has been called on for her defensive prowess, has missed some practice time because of her earlier NCAA suspension, but still is trying to get accustomed to new offensive philosophies.

"There is a disappointment that she hasn't been able to give us more," Portland said.

"When she started to practice, it was one injury after another."