No rest for the weary as Portland prepares for weekend

By Gwenn Miller
Collegian Staff Writer

For perhaps the first time this season, Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland was caught napping.

The coach arrived a few minutes late for her weekly press conference because she was catching a few minutes of sleep in her office. But once she cleared her eyes and began talking, it was clear her catnap was not a frequent occurrence.

Portland scouts at least two teams per week, and this time Ohio State was under the microscope. Then again, the same can be said of several issues in the Big Ten and Happy Valley.

Talkin' trash

It's that time of year again.

It is the time when every game becomes that much more important and coaches begin to think about things such as conference tournament seedings, how many games behind the leader their teams fall and voting on the best of the league.

Naturally, coaches want their players to have an edge. And that's where the bulletin board fodder is generated.

"I heard (Illinois coach) Theresa Grentz say Tauja Catchings was one of the best centers in the country," Portland said. "Andrea Garner is the No. 1 center on the top-4 team in the country. We need to be more vocal here at Penn State with Helen (Darling) and Dre (Andrea Garner).

But Penn State players are making a concentrated effort to ignore the brewing controversies about who's the best. Although it is possible for all of the Lions starting five to be named to the All-Big Ten team, guard Lisa Shepherd said the team tries to stay focused and not read their own press clippings.

"I don't really read any of the media or the newspapers," Shepherd said. "I try to stay away from that."

Welcome back, Nicole

After being introduced to the community and the media at Midnight Madness, freshman center Nicole Anaejionu dropped off the Lady Lions basketball map.

She appeared at games, but sat on the bench in street clothes. Portland revealed Anaejionu was in poor academic standing and would return to the team when her grades were acceptable.

Her grades passed Portland's scrutiny and she made her debut against Iowa Sunday and scored her first collegiate basket.

"It was good for her because the team was excited," Portland said. "You will see her in these two games coming up."

For Anaejionu, the road back was anything but easy. She had to catch up to the team's level of conditioning and learn an entire book of defenses and plays.

But with the help of senior Marissa Graby, Anaejionu is feeling much better about her progress, both academically and on the basketball court.

"What a difference a year makes"

A year ago, one might have found Rashanna Barnes heading for the first available exit out of The Bryce Jordan Center and to the next bus headed for her hometown of Philadelphia.

But that was a year ago. Barnes is now feeling confident and at home in Happy Valley. The sophomore is averaging 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, as she has turned in solid performances against Illinois and Iowa most recently.

"She likes it here," Portland said. "She really gutted it out with the incredible support of her mother and her grandmother. Constant praying was really what made it happen for her."