UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- As is the case for most teams every season, there is a slew of new faces on the Lady Lions' basketball team in 2019-20. The team welcomed in a graduate transfer, Nia Staples, from West Virginia, as well as five freshmen in Makenna Marisa, Shay Hagans, Mya Bembry, Anna Camden and Jayla James.
There was a lot of hype around the incoming class before the season began and senior guard Siyeh Frazier spoke to the freshmen's impact on the team leading up to the season opener.
"Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better incoming freshman class because they're great," she said. "They're great teammates and you guys will get to see that this year."
Greatness is hard to achieve, especially in your first season in a Division I NCAA sport, but the newcomers are on their way to reinforcing their leader's words.
The freshmen have been thrown into the fire early on this season. In the season opener, both Marisa and Hagans logged 30+ minutes while Bembry added 21. In game two, Marisa saw 35 minutes while Hagans and Bembry saw 23 and 10, respectively.
For Marisa, having the knowledge of the upperclassmen can be a big help early in her career.
"I play my own game, but whenever I make mistakes they're always there to help me out," she said. "They come and get me and tell me the right thing to do."
Whether it's on her own or with teammate's help, Marisa had done the right thing often early in the year. The No. 58 ranked prospect in her senior class, is averaging 14 points and three assists in her two outings this year. She is also 12-13 from the free-throw line and is not just involved on offense as she is averaging three steals per game.
Hagans has shown her own versatility in her time on the floor. She posted seven points, seven rebounds and four assists against Towson in the season opening win. She is also contributing 2.5 steals per game. Bembry has also proven her prowess for corralling rebounds, grabbing four boards in her 10 minutes against Rider.
One thing that the group also provides to the team that won't show up in the box score is their basketball IQ.
Against Rider, as Penn State made a late comeback effort, Hagans and Bembry were both on the floor, rotating well on defense, spacing the floor and playing within themselves. Head coach Carolyn Kieger has shown the trust she has in her young core, playing them in close games down the wire.
With Marisa and Hagans running a majority of the offense from the point guard spot, there is an expected learning curve. The freshmen are learning a new offense while attempting to adapt to the speed and physicality of the college game. However, the team is behind the young players.
Sophomore forward Lauren Ebo was in the same position as the newcomers a year ago. Ebo was a freshman who was forced to learn on the fly due to a lack of depth at the forward position. Now, with a year under her belt, she's helping the freshmen out.
"[We're] letting them know that we have their back as long as they give effort and try their hardest," said Ebo. "Coach and the rest of the team are doing our best to help them develop into that player as fast as they can because time is not going to wait for them."
Moving forward, the rookies are only going to see their role increase as they become more comfortable with the new system. Although, as Ebo alluded to, time is of the essence.
"We need our young guards to learn quickly how to set people up," said Kieger. "They're working through it and it is going to be a work in progress but as Lauren [Ebo] said, we got to learn quick."
If there's as much room for improvement as is being highlighted by the team. The production seen from freshmen could turn out to be something special. The players will get their chances and it's only a matter of time before we see them maximize the opportunities.
The Lady Lions continue their homestand on Wednesday, Nov. 13, when the team takes on Fordham in the Bryce Jordan Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
