Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641865
S porting a 9-16 overall record as of mid- February, Penn State is, barring a spec- tacular turnaround, headed for a losing season. But give the Lady Lions this: They have shown recently that they have the potential to make trouble for someone (or a series of someones) at the Big Ten tour- nament. Facing two nationally ranked teams in a four-day span, Penn State went 1-1, up- setting No. 17 Michigan State, 65-61, in East Lansing on Feb. 11 and falling to No. 7 Ohio State, 77-63, on Feb. 14 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The point di5erential in the latter game might indicate that it was a lopsided a5air, but in fact, Penn State was able to keep it close most of the way. With 7 minutes, 42 seconds to play, PSU trailed by only a point, 58-57. Only a6er putting together a 13-3 run were the Buckeyes able to take control. "I thought it was a good week for us in terms of how we played, how we competed against two of the best teams in the coun- try, so certainly I think we're moving in the right direction," coach Coquese Wash- ington said. "It doesn't happen overnight. … It has taken us the entire conference season to develop our rhythm and chemistry, trust and communication. I've seen this in prac- tice. I'm just happy now that it's starting to show up on game day." Against the Spartans, Penn State was led by true freshman guard Teniya Page, who scored 20 points, including a jumper and layup in the 4nal minute. Through 25 games, Page was leading the team with an average of 15.6 points per game. The Lady Lions have also gotten a li6 from Lindsey Spann. The redshirt soph- omore guard was averaging 12.9 points heading into a Feb. 17 road trip to North- western. Against Michigan State, she hit a late free throw to help clinch the victory. Against Ohio State, she had 21 points to lead the team. Heading into the season's 4nal weeks, the goal will be to translate all those tan- gible signs of progress into something even more tangible: victories. "As a team, we know what we're capable of," she said a6er the Ohio State game. "So every night we're coming out focused on defense and being aggressive and re- bounding and doing the things we need to do." ■ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Lady Lions seeing signs of progress |