With a week and a half remaining in the Penn State Lady Lions' season, the underclassmen will soon lose three of their on-court leaders.
Off the court, however, the underclassmen will soon have to say goodbye to their top performers at the video game Rock Band.
When they aren't practicing or traveling, the Lady Lions spend much of their time together playing the game which requires a guitarist, a bassist, a drummer and a singer. Senior point guard Brianne O'Rourke said the three seniors -- herself, forward Rashida Mark and guard Mashea Williams -- are the most crucial members toward the team's success.
"We're the rock stars up here," the self-proclaimed "lead singer" said, pointing to herself and her fellow seniors.
Mark said she was the drummer and Williams said she was usually the guitarist.
But just as she has played three different positions at times this season, Williams pointed to her versatility as an asset to the "Band".
"I guess I'm the guitarist," Williams said. "But I'm versatile. I just do whatever the team needs."
O'Rourke commended Williams for her versatility, before pointing out that although Williams diversifies the instruments she plays, O'Rourke is the one who is there for her when she loses.
"It's usually Mush that fails out first," she said. "And I have to save her."
Mark said the end of the season and graduation weren't going to stop them from playing and getting together, however.
"We're still gonna stay in touch," she said. "It doesn't end here. This is a lifelong friendship. Ten years from now I'll probably still be calling them up and we'll still be trying to hang out."
The three seniors came to Penn State as part of the 2006 freshman class. They have been through four losing seasons, a coaching change and a national controversy involving former coach Rene Portland.
But, Williams said the adversity her class has faced as part of the Penn State basketball program has made the three closer. She pointed to games like Rock Band as proof of the seniors' unity.
Williams said the Rock Band sessions usually start after practice with one of the Lady Lions asking if anyone else wants to play.
"It usually just starts randomly," she said. "Someone will say 'Does anyone want to play' and one person will come in, and other people will start playing once they're done with work."
O'Rourke said Williams was maybe the most skilled overall, but was quick to point out that once the game ended she was usually the one with the highest score.
Mark added while she rarely won, she was given the title "energy hoarder" by the game most often.
O'Rourke said she got started with guitar hero, but once Rock Band came out she quickly converted to play alongside her teammates.
When asked how much they actually played, O'Rourke just laughed.
"Let's just say that's all we did over Christmas break."
