Equipped with four experienced returnees and nine promising newcomers, head coach Donna Kling and the Penn State Altoona women's basketball team will look to improve on last year's 6-19 campaign in which the Lions finished eighth in the 10-team Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.  The 2007-2008 squad is arguably the most talented Kling has had, and the third year bench boss hopes the current mix of players will yield positive results.

"The expectations for this year are to improve each time we step on the court, whether for practice or a game, and to compete with passion," she noted.  "Winning will take care of itself if we continue to get better and become a cohesive unit both on and off the court."

Seniors Brittany Poorman and Erin McGowan along with sophomores Andrea Mortimer and Morgan Dougherty will lead the 07-08 Lions.  Poorman, the school's fourth all-time leading scorer with 728 career points, led the squad in scoring last season averaging 10.7 points per game.  The Altoona High School graduate is a legitimate inside-outside threat and also grabbed more than four rebounds a game last year.  McGowan is best known for her three point shooting ability but has also improved as a ball handler and on-ball defender.  She has appeared in 75 career games for Penn State Altoona.

Mortimer had an impressive freshman campaign in 06-07, averaging nearly 10 points and four boards a night.  She was an all-state selection at Union High School and will be heavily relied on for point production this season.  Dougherty appeared in 24 games as a freshman at the back-up point guard slot and brings a level of toughness and energy that her teammates feed off of. 

"All four returning players will be integral to our team's development and success," said Kling, who will again be assisted by Kristen Baker and Pat Nagle.  "They each bring different strengths and talents to the program, but all share the same desire and commitment level necessary to succeed."

Penn State Altoona welcomes a plethora of new faces from diverse high school backgrounds to the 2007-2008 squad.    That list includes two forwards, Olivia Hallahan and Natalie Sheehan, who have excelled in volleyball and soccer, respectively, at the Ivyside campus.  Shippensburg transfer Alicia Glasser will be a versatile force both inside and out for the Lions while freshman Courtney Carroll, the point guard for Bishop Guilfoyle High School's 2007 PIAA Class A State Championship team, will figure prominently into the equation.  Bellefonte natives Natosha Lucas and Cassie Proper should provide depth and defensive presence in the post along with freshman Kelli Steiner.  Bedford native and Chestnut Ridge graduate Jess Edmonson rounds out the guards on this year's roster.

"All of our new players will make contributions to the team," asserted Kling.  "Depending on the type of game our opponent plays will determine which players will get the opportunity that given game.   As a coaching staff, we like the makeup of our team and the flexibility and versatility that many of the players possess."

Kling believes that this year's team has the talent and depth to play more of an up-tempo style of basketball.  That means the Lions will often attempt to apply pressure both offensively and defensively, varying from the half court oriented style it played the last two seasons.  Altoona finished seventh in scoring offense (57.8 ppg) and last in scoring defense a year ago in the AMCC, allowing nearly 70 points a game to opponents.  Both are areas that must be improved if the Lions are to contend for a playoff spot this season.

"We have to learn when is the appropriate time to push the ball or set up in an offense," said Kling.  "We also have been working on the nuances of team defense and trying to simulate the game atmosphere to our new players.  Those concepts come with practice and becoming familiar with your teammates"   

The 2007-2008 schedule will be a formidable challenge with non-conference games against the likes of Waynesburg, Juniata, Westminster, St. Vincent, and Lycoming.  Medaille, Penn State Behrend, Lake Erie, and Pitt-Greensburg should again be favorites in the 10-team AMCC. 

"Many of the teams have some similarities, but each team we play has its own unique identity," commented Kling.  "Each has a winning tradition and a desire to improve on their past accomplishments.  It all comes down to preparing our team both mentally and physically to handle the challenges that each opponent presents."

The Lions open the 2007-2008 season at the Holiday Inn Classic hosted by Washington & Jefferson College on November 16-17.   Altoona will meet Westminster on Friday, November 16, at 6:00 PM before taking on the host Presidents the following day at 4:00.