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[ Monday, Jan. 25, 1999 ]
Bench presses lady cagers to lopsided win over Indiana
By DAN GIGLER
Collegian Staff Writer
To win a battle, an army must bombard its opposition with a relentless attack, knock them down so they don't get up again. The same can be said in sports. If the Penn State women's basketball team's starting five is a blue and white army in Nikes, then forward Maren Walseth and center Rashana Barnes are the reinforcements. Both players have seen a steady increase in playing time, usually in relief of starting forward Clara Carter and starting center Andrea Garner.
PHOTO: Joanna Phillips
Lady Lion freshman center Rashana Barnes drives to the basket against Hoosier forward Summar Maines during Penn State’s 95-48 win last night at The Bryce Jordan Center.
Like the second wave of troops at Omaha Beach, the duo consistently has come off the bench for the No. 17 Lady Lions (13-5, 5-3 Big Ten) and provided intense, solid play as well as a shot in the arm for the Lions during the 1998-99 campaign. Yesterday, in a 95-48 decimation of Big Ten foe Indiana, both Walseth and Barnes laid fresh ink in their personal record books, reaching new career highs in scoring with 18 and 16 points, respectively.
The pair also grabbed a combined 12 rebounds for Penn State -- Walseth with eight and Barnes with four. They also added size to a spirited defensive effort, which choked the Hoosiers all afternoon.
Penn State coach Rene Portland had plenty to say of the pair's stepped-up play. Of the sophomore Walseth, Portland said, "She's a gut-it-out kid. She's kept her confidence, has a great work ethic. I like the way she runs the floor."
And the way she shoots. Thus far in the season, Walseth has posted a team-high .508 field goal percentage.
Portland is equally impressed with the scrappy play of the true freshman Barnes.
"She has a nose for the ball," Portland said.
"I really like the way she does things."
Barnes also has garnered attention not only from her coach, but opposing coaches as well -- even if they don't yet know her name.
"I liked the little center inside, number 31," Indiana coach Jim Izard said after Barnes had her way with his team. It's doubtful he'll forget again after her stellar performance against the Hoosiers. Barnes' defensive play this season is also of merit. With 25 blocks and a 1.41 blocks-per-game average, she is fourth overall in the Big Ten in that category.
As the Lions head into the second half of their season, they will need the 1-2 punch combination of Walseth and Barnes to compliment their already deep arsenal of talent.
