sports Women's team has new attitude by Sean Weaver Collegian Staff Writer Starting slow but picking up steam...it seems to be the story of the Penn State Behrend women's basketball team as they begin a new chapter this semester in their highly potential comeback story. The Lady Cubs finished out the previous semester with a sluggish 1-8 record, which was a reflection of the difficulties that interposed throughout the first half of their schedule. It took some time for the generally young team to achieve a sense of togetherness that would enable the lady hoopsters to func tion as a team. Other technicalities prevented a key player from par taking in the span of that first semester of play. . Despite these and other dilem mas, the Lady Cubs continued with high hopes and displayed a cons tant feeling of "Now, we go" at titude. With the new semester came :a change in the women's team. "The increase of intensity from the first half of the team was like night and day" said Karin Sabotta, head 'coach of the Cubs team. Added to the women's roster this semester are Paula Skaggs and freshman Sonya Sickles. Sickles, a transfer student from West Virginia University, says she is eager and excited to play with the team. Coach Sabotta delineated Sickels as a good sound basketball ,player who will work well with the team and with time will be a key player for the Cubs. Behrend's best in center court CoCo Beach here we come by Sue Holmes Collegian Sports Editor With the snow still falling in Erie, the sounds of baseballs can be heard inside Erie Hall. Yes, that's right...the sounds of baseballs. Under the direction of first year head coach Michael Bari, the men's baseball' team will head for CoCo Beach Florida over spring break, where they will start their 1987 baseball campaign. To generate funds for the trip, the team had a 100 inning baseball game in the fall. The revenue from the game totaled 2,200 dollars and coach Bari was very pleased with the response he received from everyone who participated. "It was a great start" said Bari, refering to the money generated for the trip to Florida. "We will need a total of 9,000 dollars, and what money we could not raise, each player must pay the rest of his way" Bari said. Ban will take 21 players on the roster for the 12 game spring trip. Bari feels that the trip will be very beneficial in that the team will be playing other Division 111 schools that are also northern teams. "All of us will be in the same predica ment, in that we will all be practic- With Skaggs back in the line-up coach Sabotta forsees a change in the team as a whole. "Already the intensity and the 'never die' pose taken by Paula Skaggs has rubbed off on the team." says Sabotta . . "It really changed the style of thought (among the team members)." Although the addition of two merit players to the team, much of the predicted turnaround relies on the women as a team. "They are now working together and working well." says the women's coach. "I would feel comfortable starting any five of the team roster." Existing players success also adds to the teams potential. Sue Holmes, forward, has gone over her 1000 career points and is on her way to becomming Behrends all time leading scorer. Along with her ability to score points, Holmes con tinues to lead the unit with an average of 13 points a game. Tied for the lead in high scoring for the team is Paula Skaggs who also averages 13 points per game. Skaggs also averages ten rebounds a game and seven steals per game for which she could possibly be ranked among the top "turnover queens" in the nation. Sophomore guard Lisa Butch averaged eleven points per game and leads the team with an average of ten rebouds per game, which is exceptional for her guard position on the court. The Lady Cubs are at three wins and one loss in January and have started their journey to reverse the previous semester's style of play. With changes in the line-up and Sophomore Gene Gomiak. ing inside, (because of the weather) and the firs time that we will be playing will be in our first game in Florida" Bari said. In the practices Bari has his team wourking on fundamentals, as he feels that while inside the gym his team has time to work on real game situations. With the team being made up of many freshmen Bari will be relying on returning players such as Dave Bruce; Wayne Schreive and Pat Hunt for leadership roles. Looking toward the season, Bari feels that Malone College, Fredonia State and Gannon will be :14•1 57 NS PC ; Nvt5. V.r ' a res sr rersc ' E a" ..• '" 5'•° " 1 6%C ... CFM: 7 •17W 1 3 . * , :v e- CPS ,I SW IS \/C.7 iD ......3 . D.<3.7.0..3 . D.o .D 0 . DC.; 00.-.- C...3t , D.<3; 1 1>.(3 , e1).<1 VO.O . 0.43Y15.0 . D.Ct D.O . 0.. . to- THE CARD GALLERY ?. 0 *1 11 31 F l - Ci:*- ~-,,,-, --- f5 .,.. +.1144..,, Y 4, ql• %,..V .41 • vi: @°- a February 14 'ir • .o ,„,_,. .....t t . ..„-. 7 ...,s•-. .... i:i. Remember Your Vlentine _ . 'A ll K-Mart Plaza East ',;=. Buffalo Rd. IF 899-8782 , .1. 43 0 • 1;.% 1114*-434N.Vaigt,SE..>,itSi.4.34-..e/E..Q.A.4.i3IitAtIiPAVI2‘Fiie4NC::4,2TOSIK,C.'443.4•CieI dramatic changes for the team itself, it shows the Lady Cubs pick ing up steam after the slow start...and never looking back. Due to "red tape" of the NCAA Paula Skaggs was forced to sit out the first half of the women's basketball season at Behrend. "I was disappointed not being able to play, but content in supporting the team " said Skaggs.. According to the NCAA any col lege athlete is only allowed four years participation in a particular sport. Skaggs completed her first two years of play at Behrend and then transfered to Gannon Univer sity. She played three games of the entire season after which she left the Erie school due to personal dif ficulities. Skaggs then returned to her home in Texas, where she played another year of basketball. When the senior returned to Behrend for play, last semster the NCAA recognized participation in the three games at Gannon a full year. This denied Skaggs a chance to play, according to the NCAA, a fifth year of college basketball. With the help of Herb Lauffer Athletic Director at • Behrend, Paula Skaggs was given permission to play by the NCAA on the grounds of accepting the hardship case that Skaggs encountered at Gannon and terminated that year of play. "I am really glad to be back with the team." says Skaggs "I have some goals for myself but most of all I am shooting for a good team effort in every game." •ove City. by Sue Holmes Collegian Sports Editor Behrend's Best is a new feature of the sports section, which will highlight outstanding athletes at Behrend. In this issue men's basketball player Gene Gorniak and senior women's basketball player Paula Skaggs are honored. Gene Gorniak is a 6'7" 225 pound forward from North East Penn sylvania. Gorniak is a sophomore Communications major. He is averag ing 11.7 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game. He is shooting 57 percent from the field. Coach Doug Zimmerman feels that " Gene is a very keen competitor and will make a difference this year." Paula Skaggs is also honored in this issue as one of Behrend's Best. Paula is a senior Business and Behavioral Science Major from League Ci ty, Texas. Paula has played four games since rejoining the team in early January., She is averaging 15 points per game and 9 rebounds. She is shooting 40 percent from the field and 76 percent from the foul line. Ac cording to coach Karin Sobotta "Paula plays with a tremendous amount of intensity and has excellent concentration on the floor." The student athletes that are honored by being chosen to be one of Behrend's Best will receive a dinner for two, compliments of Barbatos Restaurant in Wesleyville. • ; ; ITALIAN RESTAURANT , 3512 Buffalo Road, Wesleyville •• Phone: 899-3423 tough challenges for the Cubs. in the short fall baseball season the Cubs split with Gannon, one game a piece. Ban feels that the split with Gannon "should create a very positive attitude among the players because Gannon has a top Division II team." Ban hopes to build the baseball program here at Behrend. He wants to "change the attitudes of his players; not just to play baseball,but to win." The team's first home game will be Saturday March 28th at 1 p.m. when the Cubs will take on Washington and Jefferson. Wintergreen Cafe Would you visit us if Pizza Shop was available 2:30 til 7:30 on Fridays? fl Yes ❑ Probably Not Suggestions? Name Phone Lisa Butch scores two for the Lady Cubs. JANUARY 29,1987 Collegian PAGE 9 Senior Paula Skaggs. Photo by Rick Brooks::.
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