Facing the end
Retiring Wildcat coach comes to Happy Valley one last time

By WILLIAM KALEC
Collegian Staff Writer

It started out just like the 15 previous years had begun for Northwestern women's basketball coach Don Perrelli. But recently, that has all changed, and this season now has distinction from all the others.

It has become a season of lasts for Perrelli.

To the surprise of many, after a total of 23 years as head coach, two Big Ten Coach of the Year awards and five 20-win seasons, Perrelli simply stated last Wednesday that he had had enough and announced his retirement. Ironically, it was the same day Northwestern lost football coach Gary Barnett to Colorado.

"It wasn't too much of a shock," Northwestern forward Kristina Divjak said. "(Perrelli) told us he was considering it. He was a great coach for us. It will be a big adjustment for us and we will miss him."

When Perrelli brings his Wildcats (8-10, 2-6 Big Ten) into Happy Valley to square off against No. 21 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. today at The Bryce Jordan Center, it will be the last time for the Lady Lions (13-5, 5-3) to reclaim home supremacy against Perrelli's Wildcats.

In their two previous meetings at the Jordan Center, Penn State has come away with a split, beating Northwestern 78-62 in 1996 only to return the following season and drop a close 68-65 loss at the hands of the Wildcats.

The only problem is that upset two years ago came courtesy of the services of All-Big Ten performer Divjak, who averaged 18.9 points per game as a sophomore. Four games into this season, Divjak was well on pace to repeat as the Big Ten scoring champion, when in an instant that dream crumbled -- along with her left knee.

Following surgery to correct a condition known as lateral patella compression syndrome, Divjak's season, her last under Perrelli's guidance, was over.

Since the injury to the Wildcats' preseason Kodak honorable mention All-American candidate, Northwestern has struggled to stay competitive at best.

Trying to step into the role of the Wildcats' go-to player, senior guard Megan Chawansky has contributed 15.8 points per game with forward Leslie Schock averaging just a point less per contest than Chawansky.

"(Chawansky) is definitely a leader on the floor," Divjak said. "She leads the team with her hustle. She is versatile and she is really starting to develop as a player."

Despite the efforts of Chawansky, there is still no question that the Wildcats desperately miss Divjak's services. And with Perrelli's farewell season already more than halfway finished, Northwestern finds itself buried in the lower half of the Big Ten standings.

To make matters worse, Penn State comes off such a lopsided 95-48 victory against Indiana, that Hoosier coach Jim Izard might consider joining Perrelli on the golf course next season.

Penn State coach Rene Portland, who benched her daughter Christine Sunday in favor of guard Lisa Shepherd, is still uncertain if she will maintain that lineup tonight.

"Right now I don't know," Portland said concerning the status of her starting lineup. "But change is apparent."