Women's Basketball Team Faces Uphill Course
Published 10.28.2003
With just two returnees from last season's 12-15 squad, Pennsylvania College of Technology's women's basketball coach Jeff Chamberlin knows his team has its work cut out.
"This year is going to be much different from previous years because we're so young," said the fifth-year coach. "We're limited in experience and we're very limited in numbers − we only have nine on the roster. We're in a tough situation."
Returnees are sophomores Aubree Nilsson, a 5-foot-7 guard from Rochester, N.Y., and Shannon Harris, a 5-10 center from South Waverly. Joining them will be freshmen Jessica Bower (5-3 guard/Biglerville), Marie Cooper (5-3 guard/Baltimore, Md.), Jennifer Racho (5-7 forward-guard/Hazleton), Anne Marie Chao (5-7 center/Syracuse, N.Y.), Shana Bryan (5-6 forward-guard/Philadelphia), Danielle Hubler (5-2 guard/Munson) and Tiffini Lanza (5-4 guard/Collegeville).
"The team has been working hard in practice. They're dedicated and committed, but I'm just uncomfortable at this point because I don't know what to expect from them," Chamberlin said.
"I can tell they're really nervous about that first game. The first couple minutes of that first game is going to be a shock to them, it always is for girls who come right out of high school and try to play at a higher level. Hopefully, we can adjust with things in the first couple of minutes and they'll flow into the game better as things progress," the coach continued.
Offensively, the Lady Wildcats will keep things simple, running a basic motion that most of the girls learned in high school. On defense, Chamberlin looks to utilize the team's speed with full-court zone and "man-to-man" presses.
Penn College begins its season Friday, hosting the Lady Wildcat Tip-Off Tournament. In the 6 p.m. opener, Practical Bible College meets Lehigh Carbon Community College. Penn College takes to the court at 8 against Luzerne County Community College. The consolation game is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. with the championship following at 3.