Lady cager Brewer ends career

By WILLIAM KALEC
Collegian Staff Writer

Stacey Brewer left the floor of the Kohl Center Feb. 22, 1998 with one personal foul to show for her efforts. That night, Brewer played one minute in the Lady Lions' 83-75 loss to Wisconsin.

Little did she know it would be her last appearance as an active member of the Penn State women's basketball team.

On Friday, the senior forward from Anderson, Ind. announced she will forego her final year of eligibility next season that could have been offered to her as a medical redshirt season. Brewer declared before the start of the 1998-99 season that she would be redshirting because of chronic back pain suffered prior to the start of last season's Big Ten and WNIT Tournaments.

For the first time all season Brewer was absent from the Penn State bench Friday night as she continued to serve as Bald Eagle High School's assistant coach by attending the Bald Eagle-Buck Tail contest.

"Medically, we're unsure how safe it would be for me to try and come back," Brewer said in a press release. "This decision was easier than the decision to redshirt. It made all the realizations come to the forefront -- that I may be done and not participating."

Brewer's career at Penn State did not start on the same sour note that it ended on.

As a senior at Anderson-Highland High School Brewer earned a spot on USA Today and Street and Smith's honorable mention All-American lists, as her 1,100 career points helped the Lady Scots to three sectional and city championships. During her freshman year at Penn State, Brewer scored 87 points and played 219 minutes in 29 games.

It would be her most productive year as a Lion.

Brewer's points and playing time dropped in both her sophomore and junior campaigns.

"Stacey really struggled at the end of last year and certainly not playing in the Big Tens was a tough decision for her," Penn State coach Rene Portland said. "She has done everything she has been asked to do rehab-wise. When she came back from Christmas she was really down.

"The back will not allow her to play, and she has done everything she can do."

Brewer will continue to serve as Bald Eagle coach Jose Mori's assistant for the remainder of the season. Friday, Bald Eagle won its fifth game of the season by defeating Buck Tail, 43-37.

The Lions' final home game, Feb. 14 against Minnesota, will be the culmination of Brewer's career at Penn State -- a career cut short by injury. Along with seniors Christine Portland and Clara Carter, Brewer will be honored during Senior Day activities and will officially close the book on her days as a Lion.