STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Penn State women’s basketball coach Rene Portland said an accusation that a former player’s departure from the team involved discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was “completely and utterly untrue.”

The accusation by the National Center for Lesbian Rights involves former player Jennifer Harris, who transferred from Penn State to James Madison last spring after two years on the team.

The center alleged that Portland repeatedly questioned Harris about her sexual orientation, threatened to kick her off the team if she was a lesbian, and told other players not to associate with players who Portland believed was gay. In her statement, Portland countered with accusations that Harris had a bad attitude and a poor work ethic.

“It is unfortunate that [Harris] has chosen to attack me for her lack of success at Penn State,” Portland said. “However, her lack of success had everything to do with her lack of commitment to basketball.”

Center attorney Karen Doering said Harris is not a lesbian, but Portland believed that she was. “Jen believes she was asked to leave because Portland believed she was a lesbian,” she said.

Portland said Harris was no longer with the team “because of her performance and attitude in relation to basketball” and because she “did not meet the level of commitment” required of players, which includes game and practice performance, physical conditioning and academic performance.

“For example, she engaged in disrespectful, profane and belligerent behavior toward coaches and teammates, and she exhibited a work ethic and attitude that were unsatisfactory and detrimental to the success of our team,” Portland said.

Doering called the comments “outrageous, offensive and false.”

“This is an obvious attempt by Coach Portland to divert attention from her own unlawful and discriminatory behavior,” she said.

She has accused Portland of using anti-gay sentiments while recruiting as a way to encourage or discourage players from attending Penn State.

Doering added that Harris was one of the leading scorers and rebounders on the team.

“Jen loved Penn State and had a very close relationship with her teammates and loved playing basketball for Penn State,” she said. “Her only complaints were two specific behaviors by Coach Portland.”

Portland said she fully supports the university’s policy against discrimination, which includes sexual orientation, and said she is proud to be part of an athletic program “that takes such a strong stand … in promoting the virtues of a diverse institution and community.”

University president Graham Spanier said the school is investigating, calling the nondiscrimination policy “fundamental to the principles of our university.”

A school spokesperson earlier said the accusations came as a surprise because Harris had never raised the issue while at the university.

Portland is entering her 26th season as Penn State coach and has a 578-204 record. She has led the school to five Big Ten championships and made an NCAA Final Four appearance in 2000.