STATE COLLEGE, Pa.- Freshman guard Kelly Mazzante (Montoursville, Pa.) was named Penn State's most outstanding Lady Lion basketball player, officials announced at the team's annual Basketball Banquet on Sunday evening at the Days Inn.
Mazzante, who claimed the Joanie O'Brien Award, was named the Women's Basketball News Service National Freshman-of-the-Year. The shooting guard also received First Team Freshman All-America Team honors from WBNS and the Women's Basketball Journal. Named the 2001 Big Ten Conference Freshman-of-the-Year and first team all-Big Ten, Mazzante paced the Lady Lions and the Conference in scoring with 18.2 ppg. Named the league's Player-of-the-Week three times, she is the only freshman in Big Ten history to lead the Conference in scoring. Since PSU joined the Big Ten in 1992-93, Mazzante became the first Lady Lion freshman to earn the Conference's weekly and yearly honors. During her inaugural 29 games, Mazzante set the Penn State records for most points ever in a game by a freshman (38 against Illinois) and for most points in a season by a freshman (529).
Senior captains Lisa Shepherd (Richmond, Ind.) and Maren Walseth (Bloomington, Minn.) won the Robin Lombard Award for portraying those qualities which exemplify the true spirit of Lady Lion basketball. The duo guided the young squad to its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance while individually moving up the career scoring charts. Shepherd, who concluded her career at No. 5 with 1663 points, is the school's all-time three-point leader with 230 treys. Walseth finished at No. 11 with 1328 points. Both players saw action in 128 games, tying the record for most games played by a Lady Lion.
Freshman Jacquelynn Shook (Aurora, Ill.) won the Jeanette Goss Courage Award in recognition of outstanding courage in overcoming adversity. The true freshman, who opted to postpone knee surgery until after the season, saw action in 19 games off the bench. Her injury proved to be more serious than first thought to be. Freshman Jennifer Brenden (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) won the Academic Achievement Award for sporting the team's highest grade-point average. The 5-10 guard redshirted this season after suffering a torn ACL in her left knee during practice on Oct. 30. A two-time All-American from Sauk Rapids HS, Brenden has a 3.67 grade-point average.
Freshman Courtney Upshaw (Southport, Conn.) won the Tom Caldwell Award as Lady Lion Basketball's Unsung Hero. PSU's sixth player, the 6-4 forward saw action in every game, averaging 3.0 ppg and stopping 17 shots on the season. Upshaw recorded her first career double-double with career highs of 10 points and 12 rebounds at Florida.
The Lady Lions also acknowledged several fans for their support throughout the season. The Team Managers Colleen Christie (Broomall, Pa.), Diane Olszewski (Edinboro, Pa.), Nick Schmitz (Hamburg, Pa.), and Katie Troutman (Halifax, Pa.) were presented the Kent Peterson Student Fan of the Year Award, which recognizes student fans who show enthusiasm and support of Lady Lion basketball.
Radio broadcaster Jerry Fisher (State College, Pa.) received the Hank Gambocurta Award for his outstanding service to the Lady Lions. On Feb. 1, 2001, against Ohio State, Fisher celebrated his 500th broadcast as the Lady Lions' play-by-play announcer.
The Cager Club's Theresa and Jim Harpster (Centre Hall, Pa.) were honored with the Ruth Ingram Award, presented to a Lady Lion Basketball fan for outstanding enthusiasm and support. They served as the club's social chairs during the season, organizing the Welcome Back picnic and the post-game ice cream socials.
2001 Lady Lion Basketball Banquet Awards
Robin Lombard Award - Lisa Shepherd & Maren Walseth
*in recognition of those qualities which exemplify the true spirit of Lady Lion Basketball
1988-89 - Denise Lanes, Jenn Wheaton
1989-90 - Tanya Garner
1990-91 - Susan Robinson, Tanya Garner
1991-92 - Susan Robinson
1992-93 - Jackie Donovan
1993-94 - Tina Nicholson
1994-95 - Tiffany Longworth
1995-96 - Tina Nicholson
1996-97 - Angie Potthoff
1997-98 - Jamie Parsons
1998-99 - Maren Walseth
1999-00 - Lady Lion Team
2000-01 - Lisa Shepherd, Maren Walseth
Joanie O'Brien Award - Kelly Mazzante
*in recognition as the most outstanding Lady Lion player
1985-86 - Joanie O'Brien
1986-87 - Vicki Link
1987-88 - Bethany Collins
1988-89 - Dana Eikenberg
1989-90 - Lynn Dougherty
1990-91 - Dana Eikenberg
1991-92 - Dana Eikenberg
1992-93 - Katina Mack
1993-94 - Jackie Donovan
1994-95 - Tina Nicholson
1995-96 - Katina Mack
1996-97 - Helen Darling
1997-98 - Andrea Garner
1998-99 - Helen Darling
1999-00 - Helen Darling
2000-01 - Kelly Mazzante
Jeanette Goss Award - Jacquelynn Shook
*in recognition of outstanding courage in overcoming adversity
1990-91 - Kim Lazor
1991-92 - Lynn Dougherty
1992-93 - Helen Holloway
1993-94 - Helen Holloway
1994-95 - Angie Potthoff
1995-96 - Hrivnak Family
1996-97 - Chrissy Falcone
1997-98 - Chrissy Falcone
1998-99 - Christine Portland
1999-00 - Nicole Anaejionu
2000-01 - Jacquelynn Shook
Academic Achievement - Jennifer Brenden
*in recognition of outstanding academic achievement by a Lady Lion
1988-89 - Andrie DeVries
1989-90 - Jen Kretchmar, Susan Robinson
1990-91 - Jen Kretchmar
1991-92 - Jen Kretchmar, Susan Robinson
1992-93 - Jen Kretchmar
1993-94 - Missy Masley
1994-95 - Missy Masley
1995-96 - Julie Jarosz
1996-97 - Jamie Parsons
1997-98 - Marissa Graby
1998-99 - Marissa Graby
1999-00 - Marissa Graby
2000-01 - Jennifer Brenden
Tom Caldwell Award - Courtney Upshaw
*in recognition of the "Unsung Hero" on the Lady Lion team
1991-92 - Jen Kretchmar
1992-93 - Missy Masley
1993-94 - Kim Calhoun
1994-95 - Missy Masley
1995-96 - Kim Calhoun
1996-97 - Andrea Garner
1997-98 - Niki Alters
1998-99 - Lisa Shepherd
1999-00 - Rashana Barnes
2000-01 - Courtney Upshaw
Hank Gambocurta Award - Jerry Fisher
*in recognition of outstanding service to the Lady Lions
1986-87 - John Dixon
1987-88 - Marge & Tom Tabor
1988-89 - Dennis & Carol Krill
1989-90 - Elaine & Frank Musser
1990-91 - Glenn & Jeanette Goss
1991-92 - Hugh & Barbara Hodge
1992-93 - Jeff Fisher
1993-94 - Marian & Art Erb
1994-95 - Betty Davis
1995-96 - Penny Kowalski
1996-97 - Judy & Frank Goode
1997-98 - Wendy & Dave Peck
1998-99 - Dr. Bill Lohrer
1999-00 - Denise McGill
2000-01 - Jerry Fisher
Kent Petersen Award - Team Managers: Colleen Christie, Diane Olszewski, Nick Schmitz & Katie Troutman
*in recognition of a student fan who shows enthusiasm and support of Lady Lion Basketball
1990-91 - Rob Cooney
1991-92 - Peter Zellen, Steve Carellas
1992-93 - Sonya Hall
1993-94 - Shannon Maul
1994-95 - Rob Polinsky
1995-96 - Brad Cornali (Nittany Lion)
1996-97 - Dena O'Hara
1997-98 - PSU Pep Band
1998-99 - Martin Duff (Nittany Lion)
1999-00 - Penn State Dance Team
2000-01 - Team Managers - Colleen Christie, Diane Olszewski, Nick Schmitz, Katie Troutman
Ruth Ingram Award - Theresa & Jim Harpster
*in recognition of a Lady Lion fan for outstanding enthusiasm and support
1992-93 - Denise King
1993-94 - Helen Chelius
1994-95 - Doug Rossman
1995-96 - Mimi Fredman
1996-97 - Bob & Wanda Lupp
1997-98 - Edie Hall
1998-99 - Elaine Musser
1999-00 - Tina Henry
2000-01 - Theresa & Jim Harpster