Campbell embraces ‘mom’ role on new-look Lady Lions

UNIVERSITY PARK (Nittany Nation) — Carolyn Kieger’s era at Penn State has been defined by a core group of players: Makenna Marisa, Lelani Kapanis, and Ali Brigham. But that’s a core that doesn’t return in 2024.

“I never knew a Penn State without the three names you just mentioned,” said fifth year senior Alli Campbell.

Campbell is one of just four players who return from last year’s squad that went to the WBIT semifinals. Graduation and transfers stripped the Lady Lions roster apart, but it also built it.

Penn State add five true freshman and another four transfers.

Campbell is expected to play a key role in bringing the new-look roster together. Head coach Carolyn Kieger said the Altoona native is an extension of her on the court, and Campbell laughed and accepted her responsibility as team mom when asked.

“I’d like to think I have a high IQ and I’m more than willing to share that with my teammates to just help them grow their game as well,” she said. “But I know what Keegs wants and I can obviously vocalize that before she has to sometimes. Just to prevent her from having to be the one to always hold others accountable. I’d like to step up and do that as well.”

“Now she’s really stepping outside of our comfort zone to be that person, to hold people accountable, who demands others to reach the standard and exceed the standard,” Kieger, who enters her sixth season, said. “She doesn’t walk by mistakes and fixes things before we have to.”

After beginning her career at Notre Dame, Campbell is back at Penn State for a fourth season. She, alongside guards Jayla Oden and Moriah Murray, as well as forward Grace Hall make up Penn State’s returning four.

The Lady Lions open the 2024 season on Monday, November fourth against Bucknell.

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