May 31, 2006

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -A former Penn State basketball player in the midst of a discrimination lawsuit against coach Rene Portland said Portland made "defamatory statements" against her, the latest chapter in the months-long verbal and legal battle.

Jennifer Harris amended her lawsuit initially filed last December in response to comments Portland made in a statement on May 18. Harris contends in the suit that Portland discriminated against her because the longtime coach perceived her to be a lesbian.

Lawyers for Harris, who has said that she is not gay, accused Portland of "humiliating, berating and ostracizing" the former player. Harris was the third-leading scorer with a 10.4 average before transferring to James Madison following the 2004-05 season.

Portland has firmly denied the accusations, and said in the statement that Harris' departure was related only to basketball issues. "The sexual orientation or race of any player or person is irrelevant to me," the coach said.

In court documents filed Tuesday, Harris' lawyers said Portland's comments were false.

"We're not saying Rene does not have a right to defend herself. Of course she does," said Harris' attorney, Karen Doering, of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "But the law does not permit her to make defamatory statements, which is what she has done by claiming that Jennifer was unable to make contributions to the team."

A spokesman for Portland declined comment on Wednesday.

A university spokesman said that school lawyers hadn't reviewed the latest filing in detail and were still seeking dismissal of parts of Harris' case. Athletic director Tim Curley and the university were also named in the lawsuit.

Completing a months-long internal probe, Penn State in April said Portland violated school policy for her alleged hostile treatment of Harris, fined her $10,000 and threatened to fire her for any future violations.