INDIANAPOLIS — Imani Lewis was not lacking for motivation as the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team opened the Big Ten Conference tournament on Wednesday. For starters, she was a little put out that the conference coaches had snubbed her by leaving her off the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team announced Monday. But she wasn’t about to pout over it. “I’m bigger than that,” she said after receiving the news. “I can’t be sad about it. I just have to use it for motivation.” Of even greater motivation, however, was her desire to keep playing alongside senior teammates Marsha Howard and Kelly Karlis. And she helped make sure they’d play at least another day as Lewis scored a game-high 17 points to help lead the No. 13 seed Badgers to a 65-57 victory over No. 12 seed Penn State at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The victory sends the Badgers (14-17) to a second-round matchup against No. 5 seed Ohio State (14-13) at approximately 1:20 p.m. today. “My mindset was pretty much it’s win or go home,” said Lewis, who also grabbed nine rebounds. “I don’t want to go home.<doc-sep>Penn State women’s basketball head coach Coquese Washington will not be back with the team next season, Penn State Athletics announced Friday. #PennState Athletics and @pennstatewbb head coach Coquese Washington have agreed to a change in leadership for the Women’s Basketball program. Thank you to Coach Washington for her impact on the program, our students and our community! https://t.co/Xlkfh1NFJ3 pic.twitter.com/tQtOhLnVRn — Penn State Athletics (@GoPSUsports) March 8, 2019 “I am very appreciative of Coquese’s contributions to the Lady Lion basketball program and Penn State,” athletic director Sandy Barbour said in a release. “She is committed to developing young women, has been impactful in our community and we are grateful for her dedication. We thank her for 12 years of service to Penn State, and wish Coquese and her family all the best in their future endeavors. “We both agree that the program is not where it needs to be, and this change of leadership is best at this time.” In the final season of her contract, Washington led the Lady Lions to a 12-18 record and first-round exit from the Big Ten Tournament. She posted a 209-169 record during her 12-year tenure in charge of the program, including a 98-106 mark in Big Ten play. The Lady Lions had success in the middle of Washington’s tenure by topping the Big Ten three times. The former Notre Dame assistant was also named the conference’s coach of the year three times. However, the program’s success dwindled in recent years — Penn State missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the last five years and posted its worst record in the team’s history in 2014-15. “I’ve had an amazing run at Penn State,” Washington said. “I was fortunate to coach some extremely talented players along the way and will remember the fantastic experiences we enjoyed together. I am thankful for the Penn State and Lady Lion fans who supported us strongly year in and year out. I will always look back at my time at Penn State with fond memories while taking on this next chapter with my family.” A national search for a new women’s basketball head coach will get started immediately.<doc-sep>
Penn State parted way with veteran women’s basketball coach Coquese Washington Friday, following the program’s 12-18 showing in the recently completed season. At a press conference at the Bryce Jordan Center late in the afternoon, athletic director Sandy Barbour thanked Washington for her 12 years of service to the university but admitted that she did not believe the program was moving in a “clearly positive direction” and was not as competitive as she wanted it to be. PSU has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2014 and has finished at .500 or worse in four of the last five years. Speaking to a handful of reporters for about 20 minutes, Barbour outlined her plan to find a replacement (there is no rush), talked about the qualities she is looking for in a new coach, laid out her expectations for the program, and discussed how the Lady Lions and the team’s early signees were informed of the decision. She also touched briefly on men’s basketball coach Pat Chambers. Spoiler alert: Her support of him has not changed since she gave him a strong endorsement in Orlando in late December and once again in January. As usual, we were on hand to capture the press conference in video, so you can see exactly what Barbour had to say. This free video is presented a service to all Penn State fans. For exclusive recruiting coverage, team intel, the most popular members-only forums and unlimited access to the leading insiders, please subscribe to Lions247 With Fight On State, the No. 1 premium site for Nittany Lion scoop. Try your FREE 7-day trial now.