The ‘starr’ report
Stars, stats and poll results top Lady Cagers impeachment edition notebook

By DAN GIGLER
Collegian Staff Writer

History commences today as the Senate impeachment trial against William Jefferson Clinton begins.

Clinton's approval rating and the Lady Lions' winning percentage both hover around 70 percent. The Lions and Monica Lewinsky both wear blue. What better way to mark the history-making occasion and the amazing coincidences than with a special impeachment edition of college basketball notes?

Obstruction of jumpers

Penn State center Andrea Garner is currently the Big Ten leader in blocked shots with 25. Garner swatted three Michigan State shots in Penn State's 90-66 victory Monday night against the Spartans.

Right behind her is Penn State freshman Rashana Barnes, who has 24, and returned two Spartan shots to their senders Monday.

The star report

More Lady Lions on the Big Ten leader board: co-captain Helen Darling is tops in the conference in assists, averaging 6.86 per game. The Lions also lead the conference in offensive rebounds with 19.79 per game and rebounding margin, with 8.9 more rebounds per game than their opposition. Helping that cause is Garner, who is second in the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 9.5 boards per game. She trails only Iowa's Amy Herrig, who will visit The Bryce Jordan Center at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow when the Lions take on the Hawkeyes.

The latest polls say…

That Penn State is losing ground. This week's Associated Press poll had the Lions checking in at No. 20, down three spots from last week after a pair of losses to No. 3 Purdue and Arkansas.

Similarly, the USA Today/ ESPN Coaches' poll also had the Lions checking in at No. 20, down two spots from last week. The Lions peaked several weeks ago at No. 12.

However, against ranked opponents, the Lions are 3-1 thus far in the 1998-99 campaign. They've defeated No. 11 Old Dominion, No. 17 Alabama and No. 8 North Carolina State. Their lone loss came against Purdue.

Close but no cigar

In three of their four losses this season, the Lions lost by margins of five points or less. However, in their 10 wins, Penn State has pummeled opponents by an average margin of 21.7 points.

The Lions' largest margin of victory thus far was 35, which came in a 79-44 shellacking of Maryland on Dec. 10.

Censured

By beating Michigan State 90-66 on Monday, the Lions ran their all-time record against the Spartans to 11-1. Penn State is 8-8 against tomorrow's opponent Iowa, and 10-2 against Michigan, which it will square off against at 2 p.m. Sunday in Ann Arbor.

Removed from office

Connecticut was bounced from its spot as top team in the land by then-No. 2 Tennessee on Sunday after a 92-81 knockdown, drag-out fight that was tied at 76 with three minutes left to play.

Tennessee all-world phenom Chamique Holdsclaw and teammate Semeka Randall each scored 25 in a game that ended Connecticut's 54-game home winning streak.

Appropriate for a game that was such a fight, golden-throated boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer made pregame introductions, altering his trademark "Let's get r-r-r-r-ready to r-r-r-r-rumble" line to "Let's get r-r-r-r-ready for r-r-r-r-roundball!"

The Lady Vols replaced UConn as the nation's top team in this week's AP and USA Today/ ESPN Coaches' polls.

Tennessee is also the home state of Vice President Al Gore, who may soon also find himself vaulted to the No. 1 slot in the country.

Literally.