STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Twelfth-ranked Louisiana Tech (6-1) will try to snap No. 6 Penn State's 24-game home winning streak when it takes the court for a 1 p.m. CST tip-off at Bryce-Jordan Center (15,261).

That task will be easier said than done for head coach Kurt Budke and his squad as they face the talented Lady Lions (7-1), a team that has already defeated No. 16 LSU by 37 points and No. 5 Texas by 20 points at home this season.

"The way they beat LSU and Texas at home this year is scary," Budke said. "Those are two great basketball teams that they had their way with, and our players are aware of how big of a challenge this game will be."

Penn State has already defeated four ranked teams on the year - posting wins over Kansas State and George Washington as well - while its only setback was a surprising loss to unranked Old Dominion 75-68 in the second game of the year.

Head coach Rene Portland, who slipped on ice and broke a bone in her left leg earlier in the week, boasts an experienced team led by senior guard Kelly Mazzante, a two-time Kodak All-American who is only 161 points away from becoming the Big 10's all-time scoring leader.

Mazzante is averaging 22.4 points per game, shooting 45 percent from the field and 94 percent from the free throw line. In addition to Mazzante, three other Penn State starters are averaging double figures, including guard Tanisha Wright (14.9 ppg), point guard Jess Strom (14.4 ppg, 58 percent three pointers) and center Jess Brungo (10.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg).

"Penn State is so explosive offensively," Budke said. "They can beat you with the fast break and beat you with their half-court offense. They shoot the basketball incredibly well and don't commit turnovers. That's why they have four wins against ranked opponents."

Louisiana Tech offers plenty of offensive firepower of its own, being one of only three teams nationwide with five players averaging 10 points or more. Senior forwards Trina Frierson (16.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and Amisha Carter (15.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg) lead Tech's inside attack while guards Lakiste Barkus (11.7 ppg), Amber Obaze (11.3 ppg) and Erica Smith-Taylor (11.3 ppg) provide punch from the perimeter.

Tech leads the all-time series against Penn State 6-3, although the Lady Lions defeated the Lady Techsters 86-65 in the Midwest Regional Finals in 2000.

The game can be heard on KXKZ-FM 107.5 and via the Internet at www.latechsports.com with the pregame show starting at 12:30 p.m.