Garner rebounds from injury, honors promise to teammates

By DONNIE COLLINS
Collegian Staff Writer

Andrea Garner wasn't about to let the most painful memory of her season be her last.

After an offseason of hard work and mental preparation, and the usual trials that come with playing in the Big Ten, the first-team All-Big Ten center helped get the Penn State women's basketball team where it wanted to be -- in the NCAA Women's Tournament.

But with one jump gone wrong, one terribly awkward landing, all the work and preparation seemed to lead to a bitter, tragic end for Garner.

The game clock stopped with 4:03 remaining in the first half of the Lady Lions' game against Virginia in the tournament's first round last Friday, and Garner's season almost did as well. The junior from Philadelphia crashed to the hardwood in agony, the victim of a dislocated left kneecap.

"It was scary," Garner said in a Penn State press release. "This was a surprise and it looked nasty."

Things looked bleak enough for the Lions without having to play without their decorated post player, as the Lions trailed 36-35 at the time of Garner's departure. But Garner wasn't about to let her team lose its focus.

It didn't.

The Lions charged ahead for good with a 12-4 run immediately following Garner's injury and defeated the Cavaliers, 82-69.

"It's like the little sports cliche held true that we all rallied around a negative," forward Maren Walseth said. "(Garner) said if we can win this game she would be back for the next 40 minutes, and we wanted to give her at least 40 more minutes this year."

Granted the opportunity for 40 more minutes by her teammates, there was still the question of whether a player who suffered such an extensive knee injury would be able to suit up just 48 hours after the injury occurred.

But a promise is a promise. And Garner decided to keep hers.

Playing with the pain against Louisiana Tech Sunday, the only evidence that this Garner was not 100 percent healthy was the brace she wore to protect the injured kneecap.

Garner scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, leading Penn State in both categories in its 79-62 season-ending loss to the Lady Techsters.

Despite the loss, Garner's presence meant more to her teammates than any statistics could indicate.

"(Garner) is one of the players we need," guard Shawnta Vanzant said. "She was one of our leaders, and when a leader isn't there, everyone has to step up her game."

Against Virginia, the Lions did just that. But in their battle with the Techsters, Garner made her presence felt.

Something she only wished she could have done just two nights earlier.