Penn State Women’s Basketball: Senior Class, Which Helped Resurrect Program, Readies for Final Run

In her press conference before the Lady Lions’ opening exhibition game against California (Pa.) at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State women’s basketball coach Coquese Washington expressed her gratitude to this year’s senior class.

Washington said she was recently digging through some of her old things when she came across an article written about this year’s seniors when they signed their letters of intent while they were still in high school. Back then, Washington said that she thought these players would be a big impact and be able to come in and elevate the program.

“This senior class has been kind of the lightning rod for our success and I’m so appreciative of this class,” she said.

There are five seniors on the Lady Lions squad, four of whom have three varsity letters. Washington said that she is so appreciative of this class because they all had offers to go to schools with more renowned women’s basketball programs, but they put their faith in a second-year head coach and came to Penn State.

Said Washington: “Senior night will be tough for me.”

Last season, the Lady Lions lost to the University of Connecticut in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. They have returned four starters and have brought in freshman Candice Agee of Victorville, Calif., a 6-foot-6 center.

“I see a calm and a confidence in all of them that I haven’t seen before,” Washington said. “I think it has a positive effect on the rest of the team.”

Washington and her team are finishing their preparation for the 2012-13 season, which they will enter ranked eighth in the country in both major polls.