Penn State Lady Lions
Overall Rank: #20
Conference Rank: #5 Big Ten
Penn State Team Page
Penn State is coming off a record-setting year that saw it win its third straight Big Ten crown, the first time in program history it had won any conference title three years in a row. The team is very young this year, so it will be up to them to continue the success that last year's graduating class had.
2013-14 Record: 24-8, 13-3
2013-14 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Coquese Washington
Coach Record: 142-81 at Penn State, 142-81 overall
Strengths:
The Nittany Lions bring back an incredible amount of size. The roster comprises of only 11 players, but seven players are 6-1 or taller, including five who are 6-3 and bigger. Tori Waldner is the lone returning starter and she averaged a mere 4.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Both of those are returning highs for this year's team. However, she did start all 32 games last year and has played in at least 30 games a year in her three years at the school. Three other players, Kaliyah Mitchell, Peyton Whitted and Candice Agee, all played in at least 31 games and Alex Harris played in 29. So despite, the lack of big returning numbers, the returnees, of which six are sophomores, have some playing experience.
Weaknesses:
Penn State lost a ton, including its top four scorers. Maggie Lucas averaged 21.0 points per game, Ariel Edwards 15.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, Dara Taylor 11.7 points per game and a team-high 154 assists and Talia East 8.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest. They have all graduated. Those four accounted for 75% of the team's scoring. While the players returning have experience, none of them has been asked to carry a scoring load.
Final Projection:
Penn State will be good again. Programs like this reload, not rebuild. Normally having to replace so much would be a cause for concern, but the Lady Lions seem like they'll be able to handle it. How the young squad grows up will be vital, since eight of the 11 are underclassmen. Penn State will take part in the Preseason WNIT, Georgia State Thanksgiving Tournament and ACC/Big Ten Challenge before conference play starts. If the team gets off to a nice start, it should give the team confidence going forward.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA Tournament
Projected Starting Five:
Lindsey Spann, RS Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Kaliyah Mitchell, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, 4.5 points per game
Peyton Whitted, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, 2.9 points per game
Tori Waldner, Senior, Forward, 4.8 points per game
Candice Agee, Junior, Forward/Center, 3.1 points per game
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.1 (44th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.9 (167, 7)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.9 (96, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.0 (71, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 3.7 (299, 12)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: N/A
Free-Throw Percentage: 77.3 (10, 3)
Rebound Margin: 7.0 (25, 3)
Assists Per Game: 12.8 (212, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 16.2 (197, 12)
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