The Penn State women's basketball team is preparing to leave Wednesday morning for a 10-day trip to Italy where the Lady Lions will play four games and tour the country.

"This is a great opportunity for this team to make early adjustments post-Kelly Mazzante and Jess Brungo," said Head Coach Rene Portland, referring to her two stars from last year now playing in the WNBA. "It gives us a jump-start to the season and it will be a wonderful way to see early-on what we are capable of."

Penn State's official website, www.GoPSUsports.com will provide up-to-date information, statistics, stories, postcards from the squad, pictures and video footage to help fans follow along with the Lady Lions as they make their way through Italy.

NCAA rules allowed the team to practice in the 10 days leading up to today, allowing the team to get a head-start on preparation for the season. However, only returning players may participate, which means the traveling squad consists of seniors Jennifer Brenden (Sauk Rapids, Minn.), Hazel Joseph (Choctaw, Okla.), Ashli Schwab (Myerstown, Pa.), Jess Strom (Munhall, Pa.) and Tanisha Wright (West Mifflin, Pa.) along with sophomores Amanda Brown (Kennett Square, Pa.) and Jennifer Harris (Harrisburg, Pa.).

The Lady Lions are led by their two All-Big Ten guards Wright and Strom. Wright was recently named to the preseason Wooden Women's All-American Team for the second straight season. A first-team All-Big Ten selection last year, Wright was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season last year - the only player ever to win the award twice. Strom, meanwhile, ranked second in the conference in both assists and steals last year, and with 641 career assists, ranks fourth all-time in the Big Ten annals - within striking distance of the top mark of 892.

The warm-up in Italy comes before a grueling non-conference schedule this year. The team opens at Texas, Nov. 14 at the prestigious State Farm Tip-Off Classic, which will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET. The Lady Lions then head to Duke for a Nov. 19 matchup vs. the Blue Devils. In all, Penn State will face six non-conference teams ranked in last year's final AP top 25.

2004 Penn State Italian Tour Tentative Itinerary

Wednesday, Aug. 18      Depart Pittsburgh

Thursday, Aug. 19       Arrive Rome, Tour the Colosseum

Friday, Aug. 20     Tour Vatican City

Saturday, Aug. 21       Game vs. GS Palestrina

Sunday, Aug. 22     Depart for Florence, Tour Florence

Monday, Aug. 23     Tour Florence, Bus to Mestre

Tuesday, Aug. 24        Tour Venice, Game vs. Giants Marghera

Wednesday, Aug. 25      Depart for Udine, Game vs. Crupp Udine

Thursday, Aug. 26       Game vs. Slovenia Club Team

Friday, Aug. 27     Depart to Verona, Bus to Lake Como, Tour Lake Como

Saturday, Aug. 28       Tour Lake Como

Sunday, Aug. 29     Depart for Pittsburgh