Luke shoots, Anaejionu sits

By GWENN MILLER
Collegian Staff Writer

One had an auspicious debut in the world of collegiate athletics.

The other could only sit, observe and await her chance.

Ashley Luke and Nicole Anaejionu, freshmen on the Penn State women's basketball team, both experienced their first game at the collegiate level Friday as the Lady Lions defeated Vologda Russia 116-52.

But each one's experience was the polar opposite of the other.

With less than 10 minutes left in the first half, Luke made her entrance into the game, stepping on the floor of The Bryce Jordan Center competitively for the first time.

Luke said she wasn't nervous before the game, but that changed when Lions coach Rene Portland called her off the bench.

Luke controlled her nerves, and wasted no time demonstrating the reasons she was recruited.

"There were some gutsy threes taken, and she's very comfortable with that," Portland said. "She got into the Penn State score books very quickly."

Luke finished with 13 points on four for eight shooting from the field, including three for four from behind the 3-point arc. She was perfect from the foul line, and tallied four steals and four assists.

And it was all from someone who, just last week, wasn't feeling all that confident.

"I feel more comfortable now than I did a week ago," Luke said. "A week ago, I was like 'I'm never going to learn this.' But after another week of practice and getting up and down the floor a little more, I have a better grasp on it."

Portland found no reason to complain about Luke and said any mistakes she made were ones which could be easily corrected.

"I was very pleased with Ashley — very pleased," Portland said. "Since she's the only freshman right now, we're going to hear her name in our sleep."

On the other hand, Anaejionu could do nothing but watch from the sidelines in street clothes. A highly touted recruit, she is in the midst of what Portland termed "an academic situation", and will return to the team when the staff feels more comfortable about it.

"You have to go to class, you have to go to study hall and you have to do your homework," Portland said. "You have to understand why you came to Penn State. It's not to play basketball and do other things. You're here to go to school."

Portland said it has already been determined Anaejionu will not dress for the Lions Nov. 14 exhibition game against the Basketball Travelers, but there is no time limit imposed on her absence.

Portland said, "The ball's on her side of the court."