Oct. 23, 2013
By Mike Esse, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - There have been many constants over the past few years as Coquese Washington has re-built the Penn State Lady Lion basketball program: hard work, impact players, wins and championships, to name a few.
As all of that has evolved there is one other constant that has defined it all for Washington, especially coming off of back-to-back Big Ten regular season titles: leadership.
Last season the leaders were evident with Alex Bentley, Nikki Greene, Mia Nickson, Gizelle Studevent and Marisa Wolfe. Since their departure, eight new student-athletes have joined the Lady Lions.
Now it is up to a few players to go from loyal cohorts to leading the masses. That has already happened for Washington's group since the summer, but it all goes back to experiences from seasons past.
"It starts, because they were really good followers," said Washington. "We always talk about; it's hard to be a good leader, if you've never been a good follower.
"Because they were such good followers their first couple years on campus, they've been able to make the transition now to being good leaders and mentors to the younger kids on our team."
Seniors Talia East, Ariel Edwards and Dara Taylor were all followers for the past two years during a pair of conference championship runs and now have the opportunity to take that knowledge and instill it into the group that is responsible to take care of what they leave behind in the coming years.
Their contributions, combined with 2012-13 Big Ten Player of the Year Maggie Lucas' experience makes Washington think her program is in good hands, and rightfully so.
There's no reason to feel otherwise as these players have been waiting for this moment since they first arrived to campus. They had people helping them during the early stages of their careers and now it is time to assume the roles themselves.
"From my freshman to my junior year I had great leaders every year that were phenomenal captains that have went on to be in the WNBA," said East. "It was easy to follow along and that has helped me to be a good captain and basically I am trying to lead by example which is something that the captains before me did."
East stressed the importance of being there for the freshman during this transitioning period, one that she went through with the help of her teammates three years ago.
All of this is even more important when you take a look at the Lady Lions schedule.
Before the eight newcomers even complete their first full semester at Penn State they will have to play three national title contenders in Connecticut, Notre Dame and Texas A&M and there is no doubt that some of them will have to contribute meaningful minutes during those games.
"We're not a veteran laden team as we have been in past years, so a lot of freshman are going to get big time minutes in big games, so we have to help them build their confidence up and not think too much," said Taylor. "They need to just relax and play the game. That's going to be big for us and a key to our success."
Washington and the senior leaders stressed at the team's media day on Tuesday that patience will be a key part to this process. For the rookies, knowing that makes getting through the hardships of their freshman year a little easier.
"It's easy to come into a group of seniors that really have great pride in the program, and really want to see us succeed," said freshman forward Jenny DeGraaf. "Getting through things with them behind us is a lot easier than it would be without having someone to support us."
The new leaders and their new cohort will begin the 2013-14 campaign with a home exhibition against Lock Haven on Sunday Oct. 27 before the season opener against Saint Francis on Nov. 8 at the Bryce Jordan Center.