Sparks of hope fly for lady cagers

True, the Lady Lion basketball team fell one victory shy of claiming the Big Ten Tournament title and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid that goes with it.

Dropping the title game to Purdue, however, does not diminish what Penn State accomplished last weekend in Indianapolis.

During the tournament there were seven moments that captured the desire and determination that fueled Penn State to the championship game and put the program back on the map.

1. Freshman guard Chrissy Falcone's 3-point barrage against Northwestern.

With thoughts of a first-round upset dancing in the Wildcats' heads, Falcone came off the bench and nailed her first four trey attempts to turn a close game into a romp.

2. Clara Carter giving Northwestern and Illinois fits inside.

The junior forward served as the perfect complement to Tournament Most Valuable Player Andrea Garner, racking up 23 points and 10 rebounds in the first two rounds. Carter's presence in the middle prevented both teams from keying on Garner and helped open the outside game for the Lion guards.

3. Lisa Shepherd shaking off the nerves of playing in her first tournament game.

The freshman guard showed no signs of big-game jitters and torched Northwestern for 21 points. Shepherd's sharp shooting helped snuff out any hopes a Wildcat second-half comeback.

4. Christine Portland single-handedly frustrating Illinois.

With the heavily favored Illini poised to break the game open in the second half, Portland shook off a first-half injury and knocked down three consecutive 3-pointers. Her trey assault gave the Lions a 10-point lead and the confidence they needed to hold off the tournament favorites.

5. Parsons playing through the pain of a sprained ankle.

The senior co-captain epitomized Penn State's toughness, averaging 30 minutes per game despite playing in constant pain. In the semifinal against Michigan she kick-started the Lions, scoring eight of their first 10 points. Penn State could not have gone as far as it did without Parsons' leadership.

6. Garner developing into one of the Big Ten's best players.

7. Point guard Helen Darling carrying the Lions in overtime against Michigan.

Despite playing in her third game in as many days, Darling played 42 minutes against the Wolverines and hit one clutch shot after another on her way to a career-high 20 points. After Michigan's Ann Lemire hit what could have been a demoralizing 3-pointer to force overtime, Darling put the Lions on her back and moved Penn State into the finals, scoring the first four points in the extra frame.

As great as Penn State's run was, it may not be enough to earn a trip to the Big Dance.

After plowing the way to the Big Ten finals, though, the Lions showed that if NCAA Tournament bids were based on heart, they would be worthy of a top seed.