New additions seek to make an impact

Simply put, Lady Lions junior forward Talia East did not shy away from describing her excitement when talking about the season’s outlook at this year’s media day.
“It’s about to get crazy,” East said. “You got Dara [Taylor], Maggie [Lucas], and Alex [Bentley] in the back court…It’s about to get crazy.”
The new name in that mix for Penn State is redshirt junior guard Dara Taylor, who sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules after transferring from Maryland.
Taylor, who served as a mentor in 2012, watched games from the bench. While she said it was difficult, it gave her a unique experience.
“When you’re sitting you can see more clearly,” Taylor said. “You can see how teammates interact and what you are doing. So, it kind of gives a little bit of an insight in on the flow of the game.”
Assistant coach Kia Damon described her as “lightning fast” and a “phenomenal passer.”
The addition of Taylor to the court also excites childhood friend Lucas.
“To have Dara as our point guard, Alex and her, are both so quick and so controlling of the game, it just adds a whole new dimension to our team’s game,” said Lucas.
Taylor, along with senior guard Gizelle Studevent and junior forward Ariel Edwards, will try to fill the veteran presence void left by Zhaque Gray, who graduated this past spring, Damon said.
While the absence of Gray’s 35 percent three-point shooting, second on the team in 2011, will be missed; the strengths of Taylor, Studevent, and Edwards will definitely be taken advantage of, Damon said.
However, Penn State will try to replace that perimeter shooting with a new offensive weapon in the low post, freshman 6-6 center Candice Agee.
Agee comes into Penn State as a 2012 McDonald’s All-American, who averaged15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, and 3.4 steals as a senior for Silverado High School.
Unlike other freshman in college hoops, Agee comes in a little more seasoned than most after competing for the 2012 USA Under-18 national team in the FIBA Americas U18 Championships.
“She had a great opportunity to participate with USA Basketball this summer, and that has been a springboard for her, ” Damon said.
That has helped Agee become acclimated with the next level, but she credits her teammates as the big part.
“They just make it so easy to be a freshman,” Agee said. “Especially to being the only freshman, it is a little bit harder, but every single one of these girls has my back in some way. I couldn’t ask for a better group to be with.”
One of those girls, sophomore forward/center Tori Waldner, knows the feeling of being a lone freshman as she was last year.
Waldner keeps Agee in check, sometimes serving as Agee’s alarm clock, Agee said.
“Some people just can’t wake up in the morning, college is a big transition.” Waldner said laughing.  But she praises Agee for learning quickly and progressing on and off the court.
That progress has led Talia East to make a bold prediction for the freshman’s career.
“I think by the time Candice is a senior, she will be one of the best in the country. She has the potential to be phenomenal and she is learning everyday and improving from everyday. She is going to be a great addition to the team.”