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WOMEN'S Allen Roberts has joined Penn State's program after spending four seasons at Miami (Ohio) University. A graduate student, Roberts will not have to sit out a year. He has one remaining season of eligibility. "Allen is a strong, physical guard with a Big Ten body," Chambers said. "He is a good shooter and scorer, plays hard and brings great experience and a mature approach. We are excited to add him to what we feel is one of the most talented backcourts in the nation." Roberts joins the Lions after leading the RedHawks with 12.3 points per game last season. He is expected to help fill the void left by guard Jermaine Marshall, who left school in May in hope of starting a pro career in Europe. (Marshall has since abandoned those plans and is planning to transfer to Arizona State, having received his release from Penn State.) Marshall isn't the only player to have left the program in the past three months. In June, redshirt junior forward Jon Graham announced that he, too, was transferring from Penn State. Graham played in 58 games in his career, averaging 1.9 points and 2.7 rebounds last season. Off the court, Ryan Devlin is set to join the Nittany Lions as director of player development beginning with the 2013-14 season. A Pennsylvania native, Devlin joins the Penn State staff after spending the past four years as an assistant coach at the College of Southern Idaho. While he was there, the Golden Eagles finished 105-32 overall and were the 2011 National Junior College Athletic Association champions. "We are excited to welcome Ryan back to the state of Pennsylvania and to the Penn State program," Chambers said. "He has a proven record of success wherever he has been and is a terrific, hard-working, energetic addition to our staff." Chambers has yet to fill the vacancy created by the departure of associate head coach Eugene Burroughs. – N.B. BASKETBALL UConn, Notre Dame highlight tough nonconference slate P enn State is in the midst of a major personnel overhaul, with three starters having graduated and a seven-member freshman class set to join the program. But you wouldn't know it from the nonconference schedule the team is about to play. Announced last month, the 12-game slate isn't exactly designed to ease all those newcomers into the rigors of the college game. It's more like a baptism by fire, with defending national champion Connecticut set to visit the Bryce Jordan Center, along with previous NCAA champions Notre Dame and Texas A&M. The 10 announced opponents have combined for 86 NCAA tournament appearances, 20 Final Four berths and 10 national championships. Penn State holds a .750 winning percentage (3311) against teams on the schedule. "Although we are a young team, it's important that we challenge ourselves early in the season," coach Coquese Washington said. "We are going to throw our freshmen to the fire right away. They are a very talented group, and they will learn a lot of good lessons early on that will pay dividends as we move into conference play." The Lady Lions, who have won their past 20 consecutive games at the BJC, will open the schedule with a fourgame homestand beginning against St. Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 8 and Fordham on Nov. 10. The homestand continues Nov. 17 when the Lady Lions play host to eight-time national champion Connecticut. Penn State hasn't faced the Huskies at home since Jan. 8, 1983. The Lady Lions close out their homestand against Bucknell on Nov. 20 before traveling to Grand Bahama Island to play in the Junkanoo Jam Nov. 2930. The pairings for the tournament had not been announced as of this writing. Upon returning home, the Lady Lions will host Washington's alma mater, Notre Dame, in the Big Ten/ACC Chal- Freshman guard has knee surgery Freshman Lindsey Spann will be sidelined indefinitely after tearing her right anterior cruciate ligament during a workout. Spann had successful surgery to repair her knee July 8. "Although it's a disappointing start to her career, Lindsey has displayed a great attitude and approach to this unfortunate situation," Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington said. "She will work hard in rehab and return to the court ready to be a player of tremendous impact." Spann had been expected to compete for playing time at point guard following the graduation of four-year starter Alex Bentley. No timetable has been set for her return to the court. lenge on Dec. 4. The last time the Irish visited the BJC was on Nov. 16, 2006 and Washington was the associate head coach under Muffet McGraw. "When Notre Dame joined the ACC, I knew the basketball gods would have us play each other," Washington said. "They are a tough, tough team, and Coach McGraw is just a phenomenal coach." Penn State hits the road for games at Georgetown (Dec. 8) and South Dakota State (Dec. 11), before coming back to the BJC to top off the nonconference schedule with a three-game home string. The homestand begins when 2011 NCAA champion Texas A&M visits on Dec. 15. It will be the Aggies' first trip to Penn State. The nonconference slate concludes as Alcorn State comes to the BJC on Dec. 22, followed by a visit from Hartford on Dec. 29. I

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