Garner spins tangled spider web against Burns, Golden Gophers

Minnesota Golden Gopher guard Kiauna Burns is a pretty humble basketball player. She's lucky she is, because an egotistical player would not have taken kindly to having a shot blocked by a spider. A spider who goes by the name Andrea Garner.

Friday night against the Golden Gophers, Garner -- commonly referred to as Charlotte (the spider) by her Lady Lion teammates for her unusually long arms and legs -- swatted three shots, hauled down nine rebounds and added 11 points to fuel Penn State's 83-62 railing of Minnesota.

"I have really long legs and long arms," the 6-foot-2 Garner said. "I'm trying to learn how to use them better. (Coach Rene Portland) is trying to get me to be more like Charlotte from Charlotte's web."

If being an insect from a children's book is what the Lady Lion coaching staff wants Garner to become, then she is more than willing to spin her web. Garner is tall and lanky, yet surprisingly quick around the basket. Her long arms allow her to box out the opposition while swallowing up rebounds in her vicinity. And she reacts well to adjust to different sized opponents.

Though only a freshman, Garner has matured rapidly over the course of the season. She more importantly has found her role on the team: to be the Dennis Rodman of the Lady Lions (minus the tirades).

"That's what I'm really out there for -- to rebound," Garner said. "My offensive game will come. But (rebounding) is something that comes naturally."

So Garner, also known as Dré to those closest to her, goes about her business, concentrating on rebounds and nothing else. If an open layup presents itself to her, Garner converts it for two points. If an opposing player attempts to put up a shot, she swats it.

Friday against Minnesota's premier post player, Angie Iverson, Garner used her wiry frame to slither through the paint and get between Iverson and the basket. She helped hold Iverson, who was averaging 18.8 points, to 14 points while forcing the junior to turn the ball over five times.

"She's maturing. In the beginning she was in shellshock," Portland said. "She's working hard on her chemistry."

And the formula is potent. Garner toasted her 18th birthday on Jan. 5 with a 14-rebound performance in a 62-56 loss to then-No. 4 Georgia. She since has been rapidly blossoming into the steady center Portland would like to see her become.

Before yesterday's game at Ohio State, Garner had led the Lady Lions in rebounding on six occasions, including 10 rebounds on Dec. 30 against Michigan State and 11 boards Jan. 10 against Indiana.

"She just closes her eyes and jumps in," Portland said referring to Garner's approach to rebounding. "We need her to continue to do more of that."

And her help will be needed more now than ever with the loss of center Em Clements for at least three weeks because a stress fracture in her foot.

"Dré played hard today," senior Angie Potthoff said. "The post players have to accept the challenge."

Garner may already have.