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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Senior Talia East keeps close watch over her youthful PSU teammates | T alia East knew what she was in for her senior season. Sure, she had two classmates – Ariel Edwards and Maggie Lucas, no less – with whom to share the leadership role. But she also had seven new teammates. Seven freshmen. Or, as she puts it: "seven babies." East, a senior center, knew basically what would be expected of her. She's the oldest of four. "It's natural, she said. "I " had to look after my younger siblings. " Being responsible for the rookie Lady Lions, however, meant more than typical big-sister duties. It meant getting in shape. "This summer, I just really focused on dieting and actual conditioning, because I knew I was going to have to come in and be a leader," she said. "Especially with the freshmen, you've got to be the one coming in first. " Her plan worked. "She's in the best shape of her career, " coach Coquese Washington said. "Sometimes, for post players, it takes them some time to get in great shape. Her body composition is the best that's it's been since she's been here. " East said that's due primarily to two things: conditioning and diet. Back home in Philadelphia for the summer, East practiced every day with her best friend, Monayae Merritt, a point guard for Temple. "If you're running with a point guard, she said, "you're going to " be fine. " East also followed a strict, low-carb diet, which did not include her favorite food, which is – of course, for a Philly native – cheesesteaks. "A lot of salad," East said. "A lot of grilled chicken." She paused. "That's pretty much it." She paused again, grinned. "Water." While the daily workouts weren't easy – asked about sprints, East answered, without her typical smile, "I hate 'em; not a fan, but you've got to do them" – the cheesesteak ban was particularly tough. A connoisseur of the delicacy, she skips the well-known Pat's and Geno's in favor of Larry's, which is located near St. Joseph's University. And is, you know, more authentic. "Geno's and Pat's, they have really thick steak slices, and it's a little too fancy," East explained. "It's for the tourists. If you're from Philly, you know that's not the best cheesesteaks. I'm just sayin'." East came to Penn State in 2010 as a two-time All-State selection (first team as a senior) for The Friends' Central School in Philadelphia, where she scored 1,102 points and grabbed 920 rebounds during her career. But she missed the first 13 games of her freshman season at Penn State recovering from an ACL tear, and the lack of playing time hurt her conditioning, Washington said. Gradually, East regained her form. She got so comfortable that she was able to

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