Penn College Women's Basketball Team Confident Entering Playoffs
Published 02.13.2005
Lack of confidence should not be a factor when the Pennsylvania College of Technology women's basketball team hosts Harrisburg Area Community College in the first round of the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference playoffs at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bardo Gym.
Over the weekend, the Lady Wildcats beat Manor College for the first time in program history and, said coach Ron Kodish, "I think that we've got momentum. . . . It was a tremendous confidence builder, knowing that we have the capability not only to play with (Manor), but to control them at times.
"We have every confidence in the world in our ability to beat anybody in the conference with all of our players there."
Starters for Penn College against Harrisburg will be Katlyn Stupar (State College), Janell Thompson (Northern Potter), Tiffini Lanza (Perkiomen Valley), Brittany Blessard (Bucktail) and Natalie Plavi (Elderton). Jen Racho (Hazleton) and Jen Friese (Chambersburg) will come off the bench. Stupar is averaging 31 points and 10 rebounds per game, Blessard 21 points per game, Plavi 12.5 points and Racho 10.5 points. As a team, Penn College is averaging 67 points per game on offense and allowing 52.7 on defense.
Penn College and Harrisburg split in their two earlier meetings the Wildcats winning at home, 60-54, and losing on the road, 65-38, but Stupar and Thompson were missing from the latter game.
"Every game is very important now. Lack of depth is always important, but that's what we have to work on for next year; we have to get out and find some young ladies who are going to be able to compete at this level and then be able to handle the academic load," Kodish said.
"It's been an enjoyable season. It's been frustrating at times because of numbers situations, but that's something we'll work on clearing up as the seasons go on here, starting next season," the coach added.
Before facing Harrisburg, the Lady Wildcats conclude the regular-season portion of their schedule at 6 p.m. Monday hosting Penn State Scranton.