University Park, Pa.- Seniors Kelly Jekot and Niya Beverley were honored during the home finale matchup against Minnesota. While both started their careers outside of Happy Valley, they ended their home careers Sunday having made a mark in their time representing the Lady Lions.
Both have had different journeys to this point, but they will end those paths on the court together.
Kelly Jekot
Coming from Enola, Pennsylvania, graduate student Kelly Jekot has enjoyed a strong last season for the Lady Lions, her second at Penn State. Jekot has started in 19 games coming off the recovery of a torn ACL that ended her 2020-21 campaign, and has been a leader on the floor all season.
Coming from a basketball-oriented family, she was inspired to start playing in the footsteps of her parents who played. The oldest of four girls, all of her siblings also play basketball, two currently playing for Division I schools and the other a sophomore in high school planning on playing at that level as well.
"I knew I wanted to play at the college level once I started playing AAU out in Philadelphia," said Jekot. "I'm originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, so I was traveling over two hours every week to practice and I really bought into playing at the next level and knew it was something I was capable of."
Jekot started her collegiate career and first three seasons at Villanova. Current Penn State head coach Carolyn Kieger, who coached at Marquette at the time, played against Villanova all three seasons Jekot was there. After Kieger moved to Penn State, Jekot was in the transfer portal and knew she wanted to be a part of the Penn State culture, which is what ultimately inspired her decision to become a Lady Lion.
"I grew up in Pennsylvania and I'm an hour away from Penn State," said Jekot. "Penn State has always been a school I have seen myself going to. I really wanted to represent the state of Pennsylvania and that's a big reason why I wanted to come to Penn State for my final years."
Since coming to Penn State, Jekot averaged 15.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game before her injury. While the injury was a setback, it didn't hold her back as she had the opportunity to grow as a leader and a role model for her younger teammates.
"I think just having experience in the game coming to Penn State, having three years and an NCAA tournament run under my belt definitely helped," said Jekot. "Not only with my credibility but just being able to be there and show the underclassmen the way. They know I genuinely care about them and when I leave here, I'm going to keep in touch with them."
Some of Jekot's favorite memories as a Lady Lion include scoring her 1,000th career point in her Penn State debut and a big 83-76 comeback win over Nebraska earlier this season. In the end, though, she wants to be remembered for more than her results on the court.
"I want to be remembered as someone who gave it my all," said Jekot. "I went through hardships here with my injuries, but I never quit on this team. I believed in them from the minute I signed with them. I just want to be remembered as someone who really believed in this school and this program and someone who did everything they could to get it to where it's going to go."
Niya Beverley
Like Jekot, Niya Beverley has had basketball in her life since a young age, and that experience and love for the game helped her to make an impact in the Blue and White in her short time as a Lady Lion.
Similar to Jekot, Beverley started playing basketball in the footsteps of her father and two older brothers who also played. Being from Maryland, Bevereley always attended the Terrapins basketball games growing up and she immediately knew she wanted to play at the collegiate level like them.
She started her collegiate career with three years at the University of Wisconsin before entering the transfer portal and deciding to play for Penn State with her final years of eligibility.
"When I entered the portal, I knew I wanted to stay close to home," said Bevereley. "I knew I wanted somewhere where I trusted my coaching staff. I was really connected to the players and coach Kieger and her staff were amazing, so I just knew I wanted to be at Penn State."
Bevereley decided to come back for one more season, an extra year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside Jekot due to the emotional connection she developed with the coaching staff and team. She knew Penn State was where she was supposed to be, and she wouldn't want to finish her collegiate career at any other school.
"I feel like I improved a lot since coming to Penn State," said Beverley. "I wasn't as confident at Wisconsin in my three-point shot, shooting, and scoring ability. I feel like coach Kieger and the rest of the coaching staff have pushed me and prepared me to be ready for any moment."
Some of Beverley's favorite memories as a Lady Lion include beating Ohio State at home on senior night during the 2020-21 season and beating Nebraska at home this season, the same comeback win mentioned by Jekot.
While the wins and memories are important, as an upperclassman, Bevereley has enjoyed being a leader for her younger teammates, and one that has been able to make big plays when needed.
"I want to leave this program being remembered as Buzzer Beater Bev," said Beverley. "That's what my teammates call me and that's the nickname I've gotten because for some reason, I have always made shots on the buzzer. If that's what I can be remembered as I'm more than okay with that."
Whether it is as being part of a comeback win, achieving an individual milestone, or with a unique nickname, this group of two seniors will be remembered well after their time in Happy Valley is complete.
