Building a Strong Team on ‘Courtside with Coquese’
Bonds between teammates and family important to Lady Lions
University Park, Pa. (Feb. 25, 2009) – Coach Coquese Washington shares her secrets about building a strong basketball program in this week’s episode of “Courtside with Coquese.” Washington gives us an update on the team’s progress and what’s next in the plan to strengthen the Lady Lions as formidable foes in the Big Ten. You’ll see how the team puts those building blocks together as they celebrate a big road win this week against Illinois.
Also, Coach Washington opens the doors of the new Lady Lion offices, which were finished last summer, and she’ll explain the meaning behind the four different jersey colors worn this season. “Courtside with Coquese” will focus on the family, too, as the three senior players and their mothers share memories. Seniors Rashida Mark, Brianne O’Rourke and Mashea Williams will be honored on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Bryce Jordan Center on Senior Day. The Lady Lions host the Northwestern Wildcats.
"Courtside with Coquese" airs Friday at 10 p.m. on WPSU-TV and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on the Big Ten Network. Fans can also view selected show segments online at GoPSUsports.com and LadyLions.com. The full episode also will be available on Comcast Video On Demand in Pennsylvania beginning on Monday, March 2.
The program won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy in 2008 for best Sports Program/Series.
"Courtside with Coquese," is produced by WPSU-TV, central Pennsylvania's PBS-member station, which offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at one of the nation's top women's basketball programs. "Courtside with Coquese" takes viewers on an all-access tour of the Lady Lion program including road trips, locker room access, features, game highlights and player interviews.
Coach Coquese Washington is in her second season as head coach of the Penn State Lady Lion Basketball Team. She came to Penn State from Notre Dame University, where she served as an assistant for eight seasons, most recently as associate head coach. She is considered one of the top recruiters in the country and was instrumental in helping Notre Dame secure eight consecutive Top 25 recruiting classes, according to Blue Star Index. Her 2009 recruiting class is ranked No. 7 by Blue Star Basketball and No. 13 by the All Star Girls Report.
WPSU-TV's commitment to high-quality sports programming has brought the station Mid-Atlantic Emmys, Communicator Awards, and other honors. Each year, the station produces and distributes a diverse range of Penn State athletic programming, including wrestling, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, and sports magazine shows. In order to increase opportunities for fans to see the programming, WPSU-TV offers online streams of many of its productions, available at www.wpsu.org and www.gopsusports.com.
WPSU serves central Pennsylvania with programming, educational services and community outreach. This public media service produces, acquires and distributes programs that address local interests and reflect the diverse cultural, political, geographic and demographic characteristics of an audience within central Pennsylvania.