Players lost:

  GP/GS Min FG FGA FG% 3 Pt 3Pt A 3 Pt % FT FTA FT %
Shawanta Vanzant 30/28 27.9 89 238 .374 49 129 .380 31 47 .660
Clara Carter 30/29 20.4 75 161 .466 0 1 .000 51 97 .526
Christine Portland 30/17 20.8 42 112 .375 4 26 .154 29 42 .690

 

  Off Reb Def Reb Reb PF-D Assists Steals Blocks TO A/TO High Points Ave
Shawanta Vanzant 46 76 122 71-0 54 46 1 60 0.90 25 258 8.6
Clara Carter 74 108 182 80-2 28 30 24 56 0.50 16 201 6.7
Christine Portland 16 25 41 45-0 40 19 0 47 0.85 14 117 3.9

 

Players returning:

  GP/GS Min FG FGA FG% 3 Pt 3Pt A 3 Pt % FT FTA FT %
Andrea Garner 30/29 28.6 173 346 .500 0 0 .000 87 132 .659
Lisa Shepherd 30/13 27.7 141 323 .437 67 148 .453 73 95 .768
Helen Darling 30/29 33.2 113 289 .391 1 8 .125 146 191 .764
Maren Walseth 30/0 15.9 84 159 .528 0 1 .000 71 104 .683
Rashana Barnes 30/0 14.2 52 128 .406 0 0 .000 27 58 .466
Chrissy Falcone 30/0 10.1 38 90 .422 29 69 .420 7 8 .875
Marissa Graby 13/0 3.2 8 14 .571 0 0 .000 5 15 .533
Katrena Carr 14/0 3.5 11 26 .423 0 0 .000 0 3 .000

 

  Off Reb Def Reb Reb PF-D Assists Steals Blocks TO A/TO High Points Ave
Andrea Garner 90 164 254 75-3 40 40 51 84 0.48 25 433 14.4
Lisa Shepherd 26 48 74 36-0 44 27 3 48 0.92 28 422 14.1
Helen Darling 70 105 175 66-1 226 79 2 146 1.55 21 373 12.4
Maren Walseth 49 65 114 39-0 22 22 8 40 0.55 22 239 8.0
Rashana Barnes 57 61 118 52-3 15 16 36 29 0.52 16 131 4.4
Chrissy Falcone 11 15 26 24-0 35 13 0 34 1.03 13 112 3.7
Marissa Graby 5 7 12 9-0 2 5 1 5 0.40 4 24 1.8
Katrena Carr 2 7 9 2-0 2 5 0 2 1.0 4 22 1.6

 

Additions:

Nicole Anaejonu

 6'2 C Southfield, Mi 181* 71@
Ashley Luke 5'6 PG Aurora, Il 157*

*All Star Girls Report

@Blue Star Top 100 Seniors

 

At the close of the 1998-99 season, it seemed clear that Penn State would take the role of favorite in the 1999 campaign.  They will carry that tag into the season, although it's less clear now than at the end of the season.

Rene Portland is the Big 10's best coach, but in these times when many players demand warm fuzzies from their coaches, the unfuzzy Portland has struggled to recruit and retain players.  She appeared to have a solid starting line-up of veteran players until jc transfer Shawanta Vanzant got into academic trouble and left school.  Vanzant is not the caliber of player who's loss should destroy a program, and PSU won't be destroyed by her leaving.  Her departure leaves PSU with a roster of only 10 players, 4 of whom have little or no college experience.

The 10 players include some of the league's very best.  Darling is the Big 10's best point guard.  Center Garner and small forward Shepherd are among the best at their spots.

Last season, the Lady Lions finished second in the conference in scoring and third in defense.  They look to be able to duplicate the offensive effort.  Garner and Shepherd should each increase their scoring averages, while Darling runs the team well enough to get the maximum out of the players on the floor.  The Lady Lions were not a good free throw shooting team last year, and that may be the one area where improvement is possible.

For once, Penn State's defense does not appear stifling on paper.  Portland has always been first and foremost a defensive coach.  Her style is to put pressure on opposing teams all over the court.  This is where her lack of numbers may hurt her the most.  Five of her ten players are post players.  She may not have enough players to play the kind of defense her teams have become known for.

If Penn State struggles at all defensively, they will have to duplicate last year offensive and rebounding efforts.   They had far and away the best rebounding margin last year.  PSU has the players to lead the league in that stat again this year.

The Lady Lions went to Europe last summer.  Teams have found that this gives them a step up on a successful season.  If Penn State can stay away from injuries, they should be the league's best team one more time.

By position:

  Point guard.  Darling is the league's best.  This is her fourth year running the show and she understands how the offense should work.  She's not a good shooter, but makes up for it by being an excellent rebounder.

  Swing players.  Shepherd is the league's premier long range shooter.  In addition to being remarkable accurate from three point range, she has a very quick release and the ability to get her own shots.  The other swing position is the real question mark on the Lady Lion team.  Junior Falcone and soph Carr have little experience and neither is great defensively.  Freshman Luke is a point guard.  Unless Portland moves a post player to small forward, one of the three will have to start at shooting guard.

  Post players.  Garner, Walseth and Barnes form a potent trio.  Garner is coming off an all-league season.  Walseth improved and made a significant contribution as the season progressed.  Barnes had a solid freshman year, although she has to improve her shooting percentage.

  The Bench.  The bench has always been an important part of Portland's success.  It doesn't look like that's going to happen this year.  Barnes will provide quality depth at the post.  The drop-off between the league's top point guard and an unproven freshman could be huge.  Portland's going to have to juggle positions to have any back-ups at the swing positions.

Strengths:  offense, rebounding, coaching

Weaknesses:  depth, weaker than usual defense

Key games:  Jan 13 Illinois, Jan 30 Wisconsin

Key player:  Maren Walseth.  She appears to be the one player who could significantly improve her production.  If she does, PSU will have a foursome that should get them a championship.

Question Lady Lion fans are asking:  Will Rene be able to improve her recruiting enough to keep PSU at the top of the conference?

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