Penn State has final destination in sight

By Josh Daeche
Collegian Staff Writer

With their destination set and hopes held high, a trio of smiles greeted the media room Tuesday as Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland was accompanied by juniors Lisa Shepherd and Chrissy Falcone.

The No. 2-seeded Lady Lions (27-4) will head to Kansas City, Mo., tomorrow in preparation for Friday's matchup with the No. 3-seeded Iowa State Cyclones (23-11).

The two will meet in the second game of Saturday's Sweet 16 matchup, which is expected to tip off at 10:45 p.m.

Similarities to a Cyclone

While the teams have not met one another this season, they share a lot of similarities. One in particular is the leadership they attract from their senior guards, Helen Darling and Stacy Frese.

Frese, Iowa State's co-captain and go-to player, single-handedly put the Cyclones into the Sweet 16 by knocking down three 3-pointers in the last 93 seconds of their second-round game against Illinois.

"Stacy is very, very similar to Helen," Portland said. "(Iowa State coach) Bill (Fennelly) puts a lot of trust in her to make the right decisions with the ball. She works very hard and is a great leader. Helen shares the same type of leadership and Helen is someone I can trust."

Going with the hot hands

In its pair of first- and second-round victories, Penn State saw a great deal of sharp shooting from Shepherd and Falcone.

Shepherd knocked down 19 points, going 4 for 5 in the first half from 3-point land, in Sunday's 75-66 win against Auburn. She also pitched in with 18 points against Youngstown State in Friday's 20-point victory.

Though Falcone was not as hot as Shepherd, she was still effective as she went 3 for 8 from trifecta land against Auburn for 9 points, while going 1 for 4 from behind the arc and finishing with seven points in Friday's game.

Iowa State's guards are just as eager if not more so, as the Cyclones have averaged 30 attempts from behind the arc these past couple games. The Iowa State offense at times lives off its backcourt play. That style of play would suit Shepherd and Falcone, who combined for 26 attempts from 3-point land in two NCAA games, just fine.

Still, when the two were jokingly asked if they would like to switch teams, both declined.

"We're told to shoot the ball more," Shepherd said.

"We get the green light a lot; we wouldn't want to be anywhere else," added Falcone.

Seniors take charge

Though most teams might have one player to look to come crunch time, Penn State has had the ability to have its leaders step up to the challenge.

And it became more evident in the last two minutes of Sunday's game against Auburn.

Against the Tigers, co-captains Darling and Andrea Garner practically took the team under their wings and carried Penn State to victory as they combined for the Lions' last 10 points.

"We were very pleased," Portland said, "with the fact that the ball was in the hands of the correct people in those types of situations."