March 26, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Gabby Richards, GoPSUsports Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- At the beginning of the 2014-2015 season, Penn State women's basketball head coach Coquese Washington said one of her main priorities was "to get to know the team." With only one senior this season, the Nittany Lion roster was full of underclassmen, which meant new talent and new personalities that Washington needed to braid into the Penn State women's basketball fabric.
Out of the gate, the Nittany Lions were putting up an impressive fight against opponents, despite being a young, inexperienced team. The pre-season WNIT Tournament showed the potential of this team, as two of four losses were determined by a single basket. This mentality of continued growth played out throughout the season, a mentality their record didn't necessarily reflect.
Towards the middle of the season, the Nittany Lions were becoming more aggressive inside the paint and getting better at shot selection. Redshirt sophomore, Sierra Moore and freshman Lindsey Spann were offensive powerhouses, successfully making it into each column of the scoring table. The dynamic duo finished atop not just the scoring chart, but the steals and three-point column, too. This leadership in the scoring position remained steadfast all season, setting the pace for what is likely to be a more successful season next year.
"What I like to see is continued growth," Washington said. "We started to do some good things as we closed out the season. I really want to see our post-game continue to be a bright spot for us next year and to see us grow in our ability to create easy shots."
With the graduation of senior Tori Waldner, the Nittany Lions lose one of their tallest centers on the roster. The 6-foot-5 Lady Lion is leaving behind some big shoes to fill, shoes that junior Candice Agee had started to fill during the end of the season. Agee, who stands at 6-foot-6 has been a strong post player for the Lady Lions, as she led the team in offensive rebounds and blocked shots. Sophomore Kaliyah Mitchell stepped up this season, too. Mitchell is aggressive, a skill that has helped her draw fouls, get the rebound and break up the opposition's scoring drive, as she finished the season with an average of 1.5 steals a game.
"Some of our incoming freshman will definitely fill some of the gaps that we have," Washington said. "Shot opportunity will definitely be a big area for us. I just want to see us build off of where we finished this season. Between April and August we have to make some big steps, individually and collectively as a team."
As the team closes out a rebuilding year, the record doesn't reflect how the team has grown since the pre-season WNIT tournament. If wins and losses define tangible success, but that doesn't always influence or create an environment for a team to get better. The upcoming off-season will be a crucial time for the Lady Lions to come back to the drawing board and adjust, even more, to their roles on the court.
"We just need to learn to rely on each other," Agee said. "We just need to work on figuring out when and how we can get the ball to each other on areas of the court where we can be successful. That comes with knowing each other, and we will only get to know each other better."
"Individual leadership is important," Washington said. "You have to start working and improving now. You're not always going to be in the gym with your teammates or a coach. It isn't always going to be spoon-fed to you; you have to put in lots of time to get better. We talk to them about having individual responsibility. You have to make time to get in the gym and get better."
Coach Washington has been through a similar situation before. When her 2010-11 roster fell short in the NCAA tournament, they were in the gym working shortly after. That season lit a fire under the Lady Lions; it pushed them to get better, to work harder
The following year, the 2011-12 team won the regular season Big Ten Championship, achieving the same success the next two seasons as well.
"I think this group is hungry," Washington said. "They want much better results next year. I have seen this before."
Her faith in this team and their talent has never faltered. If there is one thing the Penn State community knows for sure it is this: Coach Washington knows how to harness drive and passion for the game, something no win or loss column can accurately illustrate.
Here's to looking forward to the 2015-16 season.