In an election year, the people will soon be voting for their leaders. However, in sports, a leader is determined not by votes, but by experience.

So, this year, the seniors on the Penn State women's basketball team, whether they want it or not, will be thrust into the role of leaders.

The role is amplified when the team is almost half freshmen. Such is the case with the Lady Lions.

Luckily for the Lions, they have three very capable seniors to take charge -- Chrissy Falcone, Lisa Shepherd, and Maren Walseth.

And the seniors have memories of what may have been the best season in Lady Lion history.

"We still have some of that excitement coming out of the Final Four," Shepherd said. "We're really excited to have five freshmen in and take them along the way with us."

Together, the trio brings back 34.5 points per game, however the incoming class will be hard pressed to make up the 25.2 points per game lost to the WNBA in the form of former Lions Andrea Garner and Helen Darling.

The freshmen will look to the seniors for advice and help with the transition to NCAA basketball, but Walseth said the seniors aren't really putting a lot of pressure on themselves.

"I think there's as much pressure as we want to put on ourselves," she said. "The seniors that graduated last year did tremendous things in different areas. I think if one of us tried to take on all the responsibilities the three of those left behind, it would be impossible. The three of us have to pick up little pieces here and there."

And they have, by doing little things, like having the freshmen over to their apartment and showing them the tapes from last year.

"It's kind of funny because when they come over to our apartment, Chrissy's the one that would always put in the highlight tape," Shepherd said.

"The freshmen are always over there. They've got to feel it (the emotion of the final four). Every time we watch those tapes we get chills. I think they've caught on with that excitement and they want to be a part of that too."

Walseth said at the preseason press conference the freshmen will listen to the seniors in hopes of becoming better players.

"I think it's real easy because they are freshmen, they don't know, they're going to do anything we say," she said.

"And if we say that this is how you get to the Final Four, if I was a freshman and a senior told me, 'This is what you have to do to get there,' I'd do it. I think we have that working for us."

Falcone, the eldest of the group — a fifth-year senior — said she knows what it's like and will try and help the freshman learn. She added she is willing to take on the leadership responsibilities.

And team members have noticed the seniors starting to take on the responsibilities.

"They don't really have a choice since freshmen make up half the team," Lions junior Katrena Carr said. "They're doing a really good job getting everybody on the same page."

The freshmen have also noticed and appreciated the help they've received from their elders.

"We have a good support staff with all the returning players," Lions freshman Jessica Brungo said.

"They've helped us out a lot.

"They let us know what it's all about."