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Sports
[ Friday, Nov. 19, 1999 ]

Despite lonely bench, women's basketball set to open season with Villanova

By BRAD STRATTONbio
Collegian Staff Writer

Despite only nine players being able to suit up tomorrow night, the Penn State women's basketball team will have the deeper bench as it prepares to begin its regular season this weekend.

The No. 11 Lady Lions open their 36th season of play tomorrow night, hosting Villanova at 8 p.m. at The Bryce Jordan Center.

Fortunately for the Lions, senior center Andrea Garner will be in the starting lineup against the Wildcats after suffering a shoulder bruise in last Sunday's 74-45 exhibition win against Tallin Pedagogial.

"We didn't really know what it was," Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland said. "It required a lot of rehab."

While the Lions will have Garner in uniform, freshman Nicole Anaejionu will remain absent from the Penn State lineup. After the center missed Penn State's two exhibition games due to an academic situation, Portland said Anaejionu will not travel with the team to Maryland and Duke during Thanksgiving break.

Despite Penn State's bench woes, Villanova's sideline will be even thinner, as the Wildcats will be without the services of guard Mimi Riley and center Brandi Barnes.

"The problem is, we have only seven (active players)," Villanova women's basketball coach Harry Perretta said. "We have two starters not playing, so we can't exploit that (Penn State's apparent lack of depth) at all."

Penn State and Villanova have gone in opposite directions since they last met in the first round of the 1998 Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) — a tournament the Lions eventually won.

While Penn State improved to 22-8 last season and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats dropped to 14-14 in last year's campaign and saw its season end in the second round of the Big East Tournament.

With Riley and Barnes unavailable to play, Villanova will seek leadership from senior forward Jenea Skeeters, a third-year starter who has averaged 23 points in the Wildcats' two exhibition games.

While Skeeters should provide senior leadership at the forward position, the Wildcats also have seen many positives from their other forward, freshman Trish Juhline, who contributed 14 points in Villanova's 78-72 exhibition loss to the New York Gazelles.

In their two exhibition games, the Lions have shown an ability to score quickly and often, tallying 116 points in a rout of Vologda Russia two weeks ago. With or without Garner, the Lions have received offense from players such as senior guard Helen Darling and junior forward Maren Walseth.

On the outside, Lions junior forward Lisa Shepherd and junior guard Chrissy Falcone have had success shooting from behind the 3-point line.

"Their (the Lions') inside game is very strong and that helps their outside game," Perretta said. "We know they shoot the ball well, especially from the three. We'll try to keep the game slow and the score low."

Despite the advantage Penn State seems to have on paper, Portland doesn't expect the game to be an easy one, pointing to last season's 49-46 season-opening loss at Pittsburgh.

"Villanova will cause a lot of problems," Portland said. "They are disciplined and make smart passes that lead to back-door scores. They do a great job."

Originally scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off, the start of the game was rescheduled for 8 p.m. to accommodate fans wishing to see the entire Penn State-Michigan State football game.


Women's basketball



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Copyright © 2006 Collegian Inc.
Updated: 1999-11-19  1:51:03   -4
Requested: 2006-9-1  13:12:46   -4
Created: 1999-11-18  23:31:38   -4