"I was the leader of the team and the player to go to, and I was the one who would help out the other players," Brungo says.
It's not hard to see why Penn State wanted Brungo. She stands 6-foot-1, is versatile enough to play both guard and forward, and runs the floor exceptionally well. She has good range on her jump shot, and her long arms and anticipation make her a defensive threat as well.
Playing for the nationally ranked Lady Lions, however, has been a whole new ball game.
"I think at the beginning of the year I think I was kind of just getting experience," Brungo adds. "It's a huge change from high school."
Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland agrees.
"To me it looked like it was your basic 'I'll learn my freshman year and then I'll come in and do something my sophomore year'," Portland says.
Brungo wasn't exactly struggling early on — she scored 12 points coming off the bench in the nail-biter against Duke back in November — but Portland felt as though her rookie needed a little push.
"There was a time when I called her Casper because she was always the last one in drills," Portland says. "So a few weeks ago I sat down with her and really went after her a little bit, and then after a few tears it was 'I don't want to let you guys down'."
During her tenure as the head of the Penn State program, Portland has been known to give such talks in order to help her players realize their full potential. As is usually the case, the chat with Brungo produced the desired results.
"I thought Iowa was her coming out party and I think since then she's done something for us in every game, offensively and defensively," Portland says. "There's been an attitude change in practice in jumping to the front of the line."
Brungo credits her coach with helping to bring about the change.
"It helps us as a team because she expects only the best you can give and nothing less," she says. "And I think that's something you need in a coach."
Besides, it isn't as if Brungo didn't know what she was getting into.
"(Former Lady Lion All-American) Susan Robinson(-Fructhl) coached me last year, and she gave me a few warnings," Brungo laughs. "She told me 'It will be a lot different next year.'
"She's a little more laid-back than Coach Portland," she added with a grin.
Robinson-Fructhl, now the head coach of the Beaver Area High School girls' basketball team, was an assistant at North Allegheny for two years, and can attest to Brungo's talents.
"She has all the skills," Robinson says. "She has the heart and the intelligence. I think she can be a great player."
Robinson played for Portland and Penn State from 1989-92, becoming the school's all-time scoring leader in the process. She knows a little bit about both playing for Portland as well as the demands of Div. I college basketball, and imparted that knowledge onto Brungo.
"We sat down last year and just discussed college in general," Robinson says. "We talked about the time and commitment it's going to take. Athletically she can do it, but now is where the mental aspect has to kick in. Rene's going to challenge her every day."
It appears as though Brungo is up to the task. She seems to have no qualms about coming off the bench for the Lady Lions and is content with her jack-of-all-trades role, although it's one she hopes to expand upon in the future.
"It's just kind of to give the team whatever they need at the time," she says. "The whole level of play and intensity this year has been great so far, and hopefully it's only going to get better."
Portland says although Brungo has had her share of ups and downs this year, the growth process of her "friendly ghost" is right on schedule.
"Right now she's on an upswing, which is really good for us going into the end of the season," she said.
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