SPOTLIGHT ON

Tanisha Wright would like to teach first or second grade some day. Currently, however, the Pennsylvania State University junior guard is schooling her opponents. The reigning Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year and 2003 First Team All-Big Ten member has always excelled at nabbing steals and pressuring the ball, but last year All-American Kelly Mazzante was the Lady Lion expected to provide the points.

"For a year and a half, Tanisha sat back and wasn't a star," said Penn State head coach Rene Portland. "Halfway through last year, she realized that Kelly wasn't enough for us. It was too easy to stop Penn State. Tanisha was the one to say, 'I have to take over.' She worked very hard on her jumper in the off-season. Tanisha uses her summer time better than any kid I have ever coached."

Last summer she won a gold medal at the FIBA World Championship for Young Women in Sibernik, Croatia.

"The coaches are looking for me to take on more of a scoring role, and that's okay with me," says Wright, who hails from West Mifflin, Pa. "I just want to do anything the team needs. We have high goals this year."

Wright's attention to offense has paid off. She kicked off the 2003-04 season by being named the Junkanoo Jam tournament Most Valuable Player, scoring a team-high 23 points in the final game against Kansas State. Wright, 20, has emerged as the Lady Lion's most effective slasher and playmaker as well as a potent scorer. She denies feeling any increased pressure now that she is a team leader.

"I have accepted it," said Wright. "I would much rather be picked to win the Big Ten than to be in the cellar."

Added Portland, "Tanisha is having a bobble head this year. When we showed it to her, she shook her head. But deep down she's very satisfied that all her work is being acknowledged. We started this year saying that Penn State can have two All-Americans."

- Janice Kritchevsky

Copyright Ashton International Media, Inc. Feb 2004
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