WB young, looking to build on last season

A year ago, the Penn State Fayette women's basketball team relied heavily on its freshmen.

Now, those players are a year older and have plenty of experience under their belts.

Fifth-year head coach Scott Hillen knows that the bumps the team took a year ago will help this year.

"My expectations are high, and I feel that we should be very competitive," he said. "Right now, depth is an issue with injuries and numbers, but expectations do not change.  The great thing about this team is that I feel their goals are the same as the coaches and each other's.  The goals are to qualify for the conference playoffs, qualify for the national tourney and to win championships."

The Nittany Lions return a pair of sophomore starters in Dae-lin Burnsworth (Monarch, PA/Connellsville HS) and Kaitlyn Riley (Charleroi, PA/Charleroi HS).

"Kaitlyn was conference Newcomer of the Year and Dae-lin was second team All-Conference," Hillen said. "We have other experience back as well."

Shelbie Brown (Camden, OH/Preble Shawnee HS) and Siteri Tale (Uniontown/Laurel Highlands HS) will be looked at to provide production under the hoop.

"They are returning with experience in the post," Hillen said. "We need them to do their thing."

Carissa Cyphert (Scottsdale, PA/Southmoreland HS) started some games a year ago and saw plenty of time when she did not start.

Jtaya Pirl (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville HS) will see plenty of time once she is cleared to play from injury, and Hillen is big on his incoming recruiting class of Anaisa Harris (Uniontown, PA/Albert Gallatin HS), Brooke Poling (Perryopolis, PA/Frazier HS) and Taylor McCormick (Laurel, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt HS).

"They will all play significant minutes," Hillen said.

The team opens play Wednesday at Chatham.

For more information on the women's basketball team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/wbkb/index.