March 14, 2018
By Tom Shively, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After being a role player for much of the regular season in 2016-17, Then-freshman Siyeh Frazier found her rhythm in the Women's NIT at the end of the year. Frazier was one of a few Lady Lions to emerge into the spotlight in last year's tournament, including notching a season-high 10 points in a first round win over Ohio.
Fast forward one year, and the Lady Lions are back in the Women's NIT, hoping for another deep run in the postseason. The Lady Lions won two games in the tournament last year and the team believes that was only the beginning.
For players like Frazier, who may not always be a prime contributor in the regular season, the postseason gives them a chance to showcase themselves and improve on the big stage.
"That time last year really helped with my confidence and being more aware of the game," Frazier said. "I think I use my confidence when I'm actually playing, knowing that I actually can make a play versus second-guessing myself over and over until I finally do it."
Frazier credits her increased role in the WNIT last year as a stepping stone for her growth this year, helping her in several different aspects of her game.
"I've improved on my ability to be more versatile," Frazier said. "Like if [head coach Coquese Washington] wants me at a different position, remembering the plays and at different spots being able to consistently play defense."
Washington has seen the impact that the increased playing time had on Frazier a season ago, and hopes that is a trend for some other young Lady Lions.
"[Frazier's rhythm] started late in the season in the conference tournament and then she had a little bit bigger role in the NIT," Washington said. "I'm hopeful that that same kind of experience, being out there and making mistakes and playing through them, will be out there for everyone on this team."
For a team with no seniors, any extra basketball is a bonus as the team continues to build chemistry. Many of the Lady Lions have little to no postseason experience, as nine of the 12 players played in their first Big Ten Tournament just two weeks ago.
"Those are the kind of numbers that make you start thinking about your team in [a young] way," Washington said. "Now we go into postseason play, and it's a very similar thing. Besides Amari, Teniya and Jaylen, nobody else on our team has played in the postseason."
Not only is the postseason an invaluable chance to build chemistry, it also allows the team to spend a little more time together bonding before a long offseason awaits.
"For us right now, it's just about having fun and playing together. We usually do our best when we're playing together and having fun with each other," Washington said.
Despite their success in the Women's NIT last year, Washington doesn't put much stock into that performance. The Lady Lions look at this tournament as a new opportunity.
"All tournament play is unique and interesting in its own," Washington said. "It's never the same. Every game is its own experience and I think that's what makes it fun and fresh."
The Lady Lions draw Radford in the first round, a team that prides itself on the defensive end of the court. The Highlanders surrender only 52.3 points per game, good for fifth in the NCAA.
"They don't score a lot of points, but they also don't give up a lot of points," Washington said. "I think it's their system that makes them effective. I wouldn't say they're Virginia men's basketball, but they're going to get back and make you play half-court offense."
The Lady Lions hope to combat this style of play by being aggressive in transition, relying heavily on guards Amari Carter and Teniya Page to push the pace.
"We've got to get as many easy baskets as possible and try to put pressure on their transition defense," Washington said. "They don't really have a star player, it's a sum of their parts. They like to play fast and they like to slow you down on defense. It's interesting because there aren't a lot of teams like that."
Tip off from the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday. The winner will face the winner of James Madison and East Tennessee State in the second round.