You BUILD a SUCCESSFUL LIFE ONE DAY at a TIME.

It's hard to believe that tomorrow's game will mark the end of our first semester. Final exams are complete and I'm sure our squad is looking forward to having 10 days off to spend with family and friends. I'm also certain they're looking forward to tomorrow's 2:00 pm tip against Point Park.

We've been through quite the roller coaster of highs and lows this year, like many young teams, and after starting 0-4, we pulled things together to win three out of our last five. We've played terrible, we've played great, we've done just enough to get a "W", and we've thrown the ball away enough to make my head spin.

For a lot of you, our 3-6 (2-2 AMCC) record may not seem like much. However, on December 18th of last year we were 1-9. Am I happy with 3-6!? Absolutely not. Am I satisfied!? No way, not ever. Am I proud to say that six of our top eight players, including four starters are freshmen!? ABSOLUTELY. I'm proud of the way our girls have stayed together through a rocky start. I'm proud to see how one of our upperclassmen has emerged as a leader and I'm proud to say that WE WORK HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Tomorrow (or today I guess, since it's after midnight) is a big test for us. We face a NAIA opponent who poses match-up issues at almost every position. We've yet to play well at home this year and following this week of practice, I'm hopeful that tomorrow will be the day. Coaches always say that the best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores. There's certainly some truth to that, but in our situation, our kids are growing up faster than most. I still believe that YOUTH is a WONDERFUL THING.

...The future is the brightest for those who are living it...

BOBCAT PLAYER of THE WEEK!

Our very own Lexi Elliott was named Pitt-Greensburg's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Bobcat Player of the Week for 12/12. Last week, Lexi helped us to a 1-1 record in AMCC play. She averaged 7.5 points per game while shooting 67% from the field. Lexi was a perfect 2-2 from behind the arc on the week.

In our 19 point win over Hilbert College , Lexi shot 3-4 from the field and 5-6 from the line en route to scoring a career high 13 points. Congrats Lexi!!!



What I am thankful for ;

Hello everyone! Hope everybody had a wonderful turkey day :) I am truly thankful for so many things this holiday season. Number one of course is my family! I loved being with my mom, dad, brother Mikey and sister Molly for the three days I was home. Since I'm from harrisburg I don't get to see them very often but when we do all come home for the holidays its always a hilarious but awesome few days<3 I've also gotta give a shout out to my little sis Molls for making Varsity BBall this past week, as a FRESHMAN!! do work girl! I'm also very thankful for my team, coaches and the ability to play basketball. Season has started off a little rough but I think its about time to show everyone what were made of!

Casey#34

What I Am Thankful For...

Well, obviously the number one thing that I am thankful for are these guys.... my family.

I have three of the most beautiful and amazing older sisters anyone could ever have and I love them all sooo much! I don't know what I would do without them. And also, my cousin Tyler is in the one picture, and I love him a lot too! We make up one big crazy family (the good crazy lol) and I really appreciate everything they do for me and I want to thank you all very much!

Especially my parents... they have done soo many things for me to ever be able to even count and I am truly lucky and blessed to have such caring and wonderful parents. I hope someday I'll be lucky enough to be as good-hearted and wonderful as these two people are. I'd be lost without them and I really, really appreciate all the love, care and support both have given me.

I love you guys so much!

I am also extremely thankful for all my friends! The new, the old and especially all my friends on the lady bobcat women's basketball team!

BRICKSQUAD!!! haha, I love all these girls and I am sooo thankful for all of them. We've all become so close and we're like family and I don't know what I would do without them! On and off the court, we are always there for each other and that is truly something to be thankful for.

Love you bobkitties!

SUPER thankful for my best friend IN THE WORLD, Courtney DiBridge. She's always been there for me through thick and thin and we probably have the greatest memories any two people could have. She's like my fourth sister and I love her to pieces! I don't know what I would do without her!

Love u boo boo!

These are two of my really good friends from high school, Amy Jo (left) and Maddi (right). These girls are two of the best friends anyone could ever have and I am very thankful to have them in my life! <33

And my newest friend Ashley! She is super fun and crazy and always makes me smile! Love this girl and I'm so happy we became friends!

All of them mean so much to me and they make everyday life so much more fun, and easier and I wouldn't trade any of our memories for the world! I would do anything for any of them.

I love each and every one of you sooo much!

So basically I am thankful for my family and all of my friends, including friends that weren't mentioned in this. Everyone has an impact on my life and I really appreciate all that they do for me!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

~ Hannah #25

What I am thankful for...

As all the girls have said before me, there is so much to be thankful for. I'll only keep you for a few though.. I am most thankful for my wonderful friends and family. I have such an amazing support system in good times and bad. I may be a little biased, but as much as I complain about my parents, they are two of the most amazing people. They support every crazy decision that comes to my mind and listen to my little rants and raves. Since I started playing basketball when I was 8 years old, they have come to every single game possible, and were my biggest cheerleaders. Even if I was having a little bit of an off game.. They were there every time I had those bad games and would come home upset and bring up my spirits and just tell me to make up for it the next time I stepped onto the court. They have given me my "never give up no matter what mentality" which has ultimately made me a stronger person today.

And talking about making me a stronger person.. I am thankful for Coach Eaton. I am thankful for the opportunity I have to play basketball under such an amazing person and coach. She truly cares about each and every one of her players as if they were a family member. I recently got hurt in our tip off tournament at Washington and Jefferson College, and was taken straight to the hospital. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated that Coach Eaton rushed over to check up on me as soon as she could, even though she had other things to worry about that night. Although this will be my last year playing as a lady bobcat, sadly, I will treasure the two years that Coach Eaton has made me a better basketball player as well as a better person. I now have confidence in myself that when I leave UPG, and move on to further my career goals, I will be more equipped to handle what ever situations come at me.


I cannot even express how thankful I am for all of my friends also. I came from a tiny town where every body knew everybody. On November 1st of this year, an amazing girl from my high school died in a car accident and my whole town was in shock. Nobody had a negative thing to say about this girl and you always saw her with a smile on her face. A beautiful thing came from such a horrible event and since then, the entire town has come together and is one big family. When I went to her funeral viewing, there was a constant line from 1:30 in the afternoon to 11:30 at night wrapped around the block of people just wanting to pay their respects for such an amazing girl. To see how many people were affected by just one person's life was just so awe inspiring. It has shown me not to take the little things for granted, tell the ones you love that you love them whenever you get the chance, and just become a better person all around.


And last, but not least, I am thankful for my lady bobcats!! I am so happy that all of you girls chose UPG and that I got the opportunity to get to know all of you ladies. And as everyone has mentioned, yeah we had a rough start, but we have truly become so close and are like a family. I fully believe that one day it will just click and we will start playing together like can be, which could raise a lot of attention. Let's make UPG proud ladies! Love you all!

Since I have been in college I realized that I have taken things in my life for granted. I see now how lucky I am to have the family that I do, although they are no where near perfect I love being apart of the craziness. I am thankful for my parents for being strict on me in high school, even though I hated it, and at time I thought I hated them for not giving me the same freedoms my friends had I appreciate it now because I dont need to be out doing things at all times. I am thankful for my mother and everything she has ever done for me. We haven't always seen eye to eye, but I know she does what she does because she loves me and thats all that matters. I thought when I went to school that I would be so happy to be away from my little brothers for a once and just be with my friends, but I have missed them sooooo much! Its nice to come home to family and not fight because you actually appreciate being around them and all the time you have with them.Another thing that I am thankful for is my Bobkitties! I miss my family alot, but my team has become my second FAMILY. We are together on and off the court. We push each other,yell at each other, give each other bruises,but at the end of the day we are family and I would be there whenever any of them needed me,no questions asked. I love alll of you!I am also thankful for my coaches. They yell at me all the time, but I know its because they see I can give more and they are pushing me to be the best I can be. I've never had a coach that pushed me so hard in my life, but it will make me stronger as person.Happy Thanksgiving!Lets GO BOBCATS!

What "Zona" Is Thankful For!

First, and foremost, I would like to thank Kayla Golden's family for letting me share this Thanksgiving with them. Since I live so far away I don't get to share this Thanksgiving with my family and The Golden's welcomed me with open arms. I give a lot of thanks to them for that.

What I am most thankful for is my family. They have been my biggest support system from day one. My older brothers gave me that competitive edge to do the best and try to be the best in everything I do. They always made me want to be better than they were. :) And my parents... they are some of the hardest working people I know. From my mom working three jobs at one point to help out financially and my dad working out of state and away from home for two years now to help out, they have done everything they can for me and my brothers, putting the three of us before anything else in their lives. I don't know how i could ever thank them enough. And I'm thankful for the wonderful women my brothers have found to be a part of the Elliott family, Chelsea and Hailee.

I am also thankful for the opportunity to play basketball at the college level. If it weren't for my high school coaches, Coach O'Connor and Coach Mike, believing in me, my parents believing in me and telling me to always work hard, and my brothers being my motivation, I would have never been able to get to this level with the short amount of time I have played. And I'm thankful for Coach Eaton and Coach Pioli for giving me this chance and believing in my ability.

What I am thankful for ;

I am very thankful for many things that come my way. I am very thankful and blessed with a wonderful family, that I learn from each and every day. My family is my biggest supporter and they are always there for me. I look up to each and every member of my family as they help me take the roads I choose in life. They mean the most to me, and i would do anything for everyone of them as they would do for me.

My Mom, a.k.a. Puff daddy has been a huge inspiration in life. She has dealt with a lot of struggles that made her a stronger women. I look up to her and learn from her in many ways. She is the most out going, giving , and happiest women I know. I am very thankful to have such a great mother like her.

I am also very thankful for my friends. With out friends i'd have trouble getting through each day. They are my comfort and memories to my life as i hope i bring to them as well. I bring a part of them with me in each year i live, and i would do anything for each and every one of my friends.

hope everyone has a safe and fun thanksgiving, until next blog,

Kayla # 2 (:

What I'm Thankful For

Gosh, Where to begin?? First, my family. Without them I would not be where I am today. My parents have given me all there love and support throughout the years, and I appreciate ever minute of it. My sister Laura is like my mini me. Every time we're together its trouble, but knowing that I will always have her and my parents around makes me blessed. I am also thankful for all my friends. Some I've known for years, others I've known for months, still does not change the fact that I love them all to death and am so lucky to have them. Finally my team!!! I'm not just talking about the basketball team, but all the teams I've played for. Without my coaches and teammates; soccer, basketball, and softball would not be my everything.

I am Thankful For...

First and foremost, I am thankful for my health the love and support of my family and my mother and grand mother, without them I wouldn't be here today. My mother has tought me to never give up and to never stop until I have reached my highest goals. I am thankful that I have a mother like her who will never give up on me and always guide me in the right direction even if I start to go off track. Love you mom!!! My grandmother is my idole and one of the most influential people in my life today. I go to her everytime I am sick because she is a miracle worker and knows just how to make me feel better. Shes the type of person that would give another person the shirt off of her back even if she needed it more. Shes been through a lot and I look up to her in so many ways because she always keeps a smile on and keeps fighting. I love you grams!!!

I am also thankful for my best friend Kelly Smith. She has always been there for me and no matter what I needed at anytime of the day... or night, she was always there for me. There were a lot of rough times that I know I couldn't of gotten through without her! We have some of the best times together and I know she will be in my wedding someday. She's always someone I can count on and just call if I need a good laugh. Love you Kel!!!

Lastly I am thankful for my teammates and my coaches. I take a lot of life lessons from them and I know that I will be using a lot of Coach Eatons, mental toughness quotes to get me through hard times. I have never had someone push me physically and mantally harder then she has done. At some moments I hate it, but at the end of the day its all worth it. I couldn't of asked for a better basketball coach that cares as much as she does. My teammates are....... for a lack of better words... wild! I love them with all of my heart. They are hardworkers, most of the time haha, and they are always there for me. We have a blast durring season, and our team is one of a kind. Even though we have started of this season a little rough, I know we can pick it up from here. LETS WIN THAT TITLE BOBKITTYSSSSSSS!!!! Love you all!!!

What "Butters" is thankful for :)

Wow there are so many things I could write that I am thankful for but I will just pick one. I am so thankful for the path God has created for me in life. I remember being a junior and senior in high school freaking out about what college I would pick and what I was going to do with the rest of my life. Then one day I got a phone call from Coach Eaton about coming to Pitt Greensburg. Then I went and visited the campus and the girls on the team at the time and I just loved it!! Finally things were starting to make sense. I could not be more thankful for that. Everything happens for a reason, whether you think its good or bad it was meant for something. Give trust and faith and you will recieve the same.

Have a great thanksgiving bobkitties with your familys!! I love you all and I am also thankful to have all of you in my life<3 meooww BRICKSQUAD :)

What Am I Thankful For?

Being thankful means to feel or express gratitude and being appreciative. 

First off I am thankful for my family. My mom and dad are two people I can truly always count on no matter what the situation is. They are two of the hardest working, supportive and caring people I know. Family is a huge part of my life, I'm truly thankful for all of my family. My grandparents, I don't know where I would be without them. My grandpa is the hardest working man I know and I look up to him greatly. My grandparents have supported me and have been there for me my entire life. I'm thankful for my aunt and uncle and little cousin. They don't live around here but, I'm thankful that they are a huge factor in my life even though they aren't close.


I'm also thankful for the truly amazing friends I have. Friendship is something that should be greatly appreciated because true friends will be there for you through the ups and downs. I'm thankful for all my girls that I've become so close with in college. These girls are like my sisters and I'm so thankful to find a group of people that are true friends. 

I'm especially thankful for my best friend Hannah. We have been best friends since second grade, and even when times get rocky and rough I know that she will always be there for me. I am extremely thankful to have someone in my life that will always be there for me, never judge me and will always have my back no matter what.

 "A best friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have."

Lastly, I'm thankful to be given the opportunities in life that I am given. I'm thankful for being a part of the Pitt-Greensburg Women's Basketball team. We have gotten off to a rocky start, but I am still thankful for basketball and the team here at UPG. I have already learned so much from being a member the team here both on and off the court. Basketball in general means so much to me, and I'm thankful that I'm given the opportunity to walk onto the court each day and play the greatest game ever created. 

I am Thankful for..

With the holiday of Thanksgiving approaching, I am thankful for a lot of things in my life. First, I am thankful for all the talents that God has given me. God has always been a major component of my life.I am also so thankful for my parents.

My mom and dad have both pushed me to be the person I am today. However, they did it in unique ways. My mom has always pushed me to keep my grades up and kept telling me how important school is. She is always there when I need help for a test or just to talk when I am upset.She has shown me the importance of getting an education and following my dreams of becoming a teacher. My dad has always been my coach. He coached me my whole life until I went to college.He would be outside in our backyard with me, trying to teach me how to dribble or just working on my foul shot. He has always been my biggest fan. He taught me when things get hard not to quit, but to work harder to succeed. Both of my parents have touched my life in different ways and have made me the person I am today.

Growing up, my brother and I have always been very close. We would play nerf basketball in the hallway of our house or mini hockey in the basement. We have always been very competitive with each other. I think that our competitiveness can be seen in the people we have become.Neither of us are quitters and I think that came from us always being very competitive with each other, and I am very thankful for him and the competitive spirit we have learned from each other.

My grandparents have played a major role in my life. My gram would watch my brother and I when my parents went to work. She would always make us do our school work before we could go outside and play. She taught me a lot about priorities and how school comes before anything else. All three of my grandparents have had a big role in my life, and influenced the person I have become today. I am thankful to have had the chance to be close to them and learn from them.

I am very thankful for all my friends I still have from high school and all the friends I have made in college. The friends I have made in college have truly made an impact on my life. They have been there for me in the worst of times and also the best moments of my life. I know I can always count on them when I need them most. Friendship is something I value greatly and am thankful for every day.

Last but not least, I am very thankful for my puppy. When I get to go homeand I see her, she always makes me smile.I love pulling in the drive wayand her come running out and jumping, trying to get in the car. I love beingable to play with her and cuddle up and just relax. She makes me feel comforted andinstantly happier.

I have a lot to be thankful for, a loving family, wonderful friends, great basketball team, and an awesome dog that no matter what happens is always there. People sometimes take for granted the things they have. You should always appreciate the people in your life and what they do for you. I know that I do.

What Are You THANKFUL For?!

As we recover from a rough first week of games, we’re going to take a few minutes to reflect on all of the things we’re thankful for. I’ll get things started…

I am thankful for my wonderful parents who have given me a life better than most people deserve. I will forever be grateful for the sacrifices my mom and dad made to ensure my sister and I would be able to achieve all of our goals, most specifically attending college and earning a degree. Seeing both of my parents work as hard as they did was a constant motivator for me to stay committed to achieving all of my goals. It is because of them that I stand firm in my belief that HARD WORK ALWAYS WINS…

I am also thankful for my sister, Tricia. I am so proud of her for all that she has accomplished since graduating from college. She is one of the most beautiful people I've ever met -- both inside and out. It's so nice to be able to call your sister one of your best friends.

I am so very thankful for my two best friends - Dee and Rob. Dee is one of the best people I've ever met. She has such an amazingly big heart and her support means more to me than she could ever imagine. Rob and I have been friends since I was five years old -- we rode the Kindergarten bus to school together! Certainly none of my friends have known me longer than Rob, and certainly none of my friends know me better. I have shared so many laughs with Dee and Rob over the years. I will always cherish the year the three of us lived together, as it was both one of the most absurd and comical years of our lives. It is so good to know that no matter where life takes us, we'll always have the love and support of one another.

I'm sure you all knew this was coming -- I am so very thankful for my three rescue puppies. At the end of a long day, there is nothing better than coming home to three dogs who love you more than anything else in the entire world. I'm sure my players get sick of hearing me tell stories about Snickers, Scoops, and Radar, but I just can't help myself...they're so cute!!!

Snickers

Scoops

Radar

...I can promise you this, a RESCUE DOG will make you a better person...

I know I have to wrap this up, but I'm thankful for a lot of things -- the rest of my family/friends -- including my Pet Adoption League extended family, my friends at work who always make sure the day is filled with laughs, and last, but not least, our basketball team.

When Does College Basketball Become "Real"!?!

Over the past two weeks, this is the question the coaching staff has been asking our newcomers -- over and over, and over again. Did college basketball become "real" the first day of practice? Did it become "real" the first half of our scrimmage at Bethany when a veteran team out-worked and out-hustled a group of scared freshmen? Did it become "real" when Casey stepped up and led our Bobcat squad to a great second half showing at Bethany?

Or, did it become "real" today, when Westminster put it to us on our home floor, and there was no second half comeback, no leadership, no fire? Maybe it became "real" when the coaching staff stripped the players of all their college-issued gear for a lack of effort, intensity, and GUTS.

In our office is a collage of old basketball advertisements, pictures, and quotes. We see our players look at it often. Some of them have found quotes they really like, and others just think it's "cool". Either way, I think we may want to take a harder look at two very important parts of the collage....

Commitment can be simply defined as a promise or a pledge. In athletics, it is an essential part of team success. If you are the team's best shooter, and your three ball has been off the mark, commitment to the team would mean you'd be in the gym tonight or tomorrow getting up shots. If you one of the team's top options at the "4", but you can only play four minutes in a row because of your level of fitness, commitment to the team would mean you'd be in the gym tomorrow running. If your coaching staff sees you as the team's leader and you didn't quite get the job done, commitment to the team would mean you'd stop by to watch film before the coaching staff asked you to. I could go on and on, but you get the point.

Part two of the collage that I find especially  intriguing for our team is one of my favorite parts of the collage. It's from an advertisement an insurance company did years back that followed the theme: "What Little Girls Are Made Of" and aired and was printed during the NCAA tournament.

The eight above characteristics combine to create winners - they combine to form championship-caliber teams. At the NCAA Division III level, I think the three characteristics that matter the most are TOUGHNESS, HEART, and GUTS. I'm sure my team gets sick of hearing me say: "There is no substitute for guts", but there really isn't. If there was, then the most talented players would always start, the most talented players would always be the all-conference performers,and the most talented teams would always be crowned champions.

In ten days, we will travel to Frostburg (Md.) for our first game. I'm hopeful that between now and then, college basketball will become "real"....

Stanton Selected AMCC Pre-Season Player of the Year...

Bobcat Senior Casey Stanton was voted the AMCC Pre-Season Player of the Year. Last year's AMCC Player of the Year, Stanton led the AMCC in points per game (19.2 ppg), rebounds per game (14.5 rpg), and blocked shots per game (3.5 bpg). Casey was also ranked in the Top 25 nationally in four statistical categories. Congrats Casey!!

Bobcat Player of the Week

Congrats to our very own Kourtney Laratonda who was named Pitt-Greensburg's Bobcat Player of Week!! Last week, Kourt led the volleyball team in almost every statistical category, including a team high 31 kills and 36 digs.

In a key AMCC match-up last Wednesday against Franciscan, Laratonda smashed 18 kills and pulled up 18 digs. Kourt will take the floor for the final time tomorrow night as the Bobcats battle Ursuline College.

Way to go Kourt!!

Project Bundle Up

This past Saturday, we participated in "Project Bundle Up" in conjunction with the Greensburg Salvation Army. "Project Bundle Up" is a program that provides needy and disabled senior citizens and disadvantaged children, ranging from infant to teens, with winter outerwear. Every year, the Salvation Army joins forces with local businesses to raise money to fund this wonderful program.

We met at Greensburg Wal*Mart around 8:00 am to receive our instructions from Lieutenants Bryan DeMichael and Laura DeMichael. As volunteers, we were each matched up with a child and took them on their own personal shopping spree. With $100.00 to spend, the kids were able to pick out winter coats, fleece jackets, snow pants, snow boots, hats, scarves, and gloves. After bagging up all the purchases, we joined the kids for breakfast at McDonalds. 

Lindsey and Courtney



 Mo

Tay



For the second year in a row, "Project Bundle Up" has been one of our players favorite community services projects. It is such a rewarding experience, as the kids are so appreciative of the time we spend with them. I also believe it provides our players with just one more opportunity to realize how fortunate they truly are.  

United Way Day of Caring...

Men's Basketball Coach Sean Strickland, Sports Information Director Pat Ross, Athletic Director Tony Berich and I spent the United Way Day of Caring at Seton Hill Child Services in Irwin, PA. For most of us, our task was to hand-wash all of the children's playground equipment. Tony, on the other hand, misread the instructions and thought spraying people with the hose was the intended project. We all had a great time helping out the kids and their teachers!

What YOUTH means to US…

So, we’re going to be a young team this year, a very young team.  And next year, we’ll be even younger - featuring a team comprised of all freshmen and sophomores. Although I’m sure I’ll have gray hair before age 30 because of these next two years, I think YOUTH is an amazing thing.

It was awesome on move-in day to see families say goodbye to their only child, their youngest child, their middle child, their only child to attend college, etc. There were smiles, a few dads who almost cried, and moms who couldn’t wait to see their daughters again over Labor Day weekend. I had the privilege of being stationed at Robertshaw Hall on move-in day, which means I got to help each of my newcomers move in to their dorm room. I would say without hesitation that our players win for bringing the most absurd amount of clothes, heels, basketball sneakers, and wall to wall carpeting.

Our influx of YOUTH is a huge motivator for our four returners. Certainly, they are thrilled to have a “normal” roster size this year. They are remembering what it was like to be the newcomers as they learn to lead a group of freshmen. More than anything, they are excited to have new teammates, new friends, and a new basketball family.

YOUTH is a huge sense of comic relief for the coaching staff. As the first week of classes came and went, we had freshmen convinced they were going to fail a class simply based on syllabus day. They forgot where the library was, where the writing center was, what time the fitness center opened, and the fact that sometimes I have to leave my office to go to meetings, to lunch, and at times even  to go home for the night.

YOUTH keeps all of us YOUNG. It keeps us ON OUR TOES. It keeps us MOTIVATED. It keeps us LAUGHING.  It keeps us GROUNDED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, it MAKES US FAMILY.

I am so excited for the future – I can’t wait to watch our players define it.

Casey Stanton Senior #34

whaaaduuuppp blogging world and my bob kittiies. My name is Casey and I'm a senior at Pitt Greensburg. This will be my third season as a bobcat, I transferred here my sophomore year from a state school. Transfering to Pitt Greensburg was one of the best decisions I've made, I love the campus, the good people and the good fun! Last season was pretty challenging but we made it through and I think we were all pushed very hard and learned alot about ourselves and style of play. I am BEYOND excited for this season and can't wait to get started!! shoutoutt to all my new wittle freshhhhhhhies, get ready girrrllssss :)!!!!!!
HOOP SQUAD.

Kayla Golden, Freshman #2

Whaddd uppp . Kayla Golden is my name basketball is my game . I live in latrobe and work at the dairy queeen , I have a chocolate lab name Sydney that is probably the cutest pup to own. Been ballin since the 8th grade, its not my hobby its my occupation. i feel that this season is going to be very good because we have alot of good athletes from what i saw at summer league. I'm a friendly girl and down to earth. i have a brother who is currently a marine, my mom and step dad both live with me in latrobe and my dad and step mom live in virginia. Family and friends mean the world to me and i would do anything for them. Cant wait to become close with you all this year <3

--- kaygold

Kourtney Laratonda, Senior #3

What Uppp Bballll Ladiessss!!!!

I'm Kourtney Laratonda... I've been on the Bobcat "Hoop Squad" for three years now and I am so excited for our pre season to start! Even though I'm playing volleyball I will be attending a lot of our basketball festivities, so don't worry, but I do hope my basketball family comes and supports me at all my home games.

I am going into my senior year at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, and will graduate this spring with a Natural Science/ Biology batchlors degree. I plan on attending the University of South Florida and getting my masters degree in marine science. After that my career goals are to work with all types of sea life. This basketball season is going to be very competitive, high goal set, and greatly underestimated. I am already in love with all of my teammates and I know we will be closer than ever this season. I hope my freshiessss have a great first semester and to all my fellow teammates "Legooooo!!!"

Courtney DiBridge, Freshman, #11

Hey whats up, I'm Courtney and I'm a freshman here at UPG. I'm from Irwin, Pennsylvania (which is only like 15 minutes away). I'm living on this lovely campus in Robertshaw with Hannah Falcsik. I really enjoy living on campus and I chose Pitt because it was close to home and Coach Eaton was an awesome recruiter and is going to be a great motivating coach. Im really looking forward to this season, the team is bonding and we all love each other to death already! I'm super excited for this year and to achieve great things as a team.

Hannah Falcsik, Freshman, #25

Yooo what's good!? My name is Hannah Falcsik and I am a freshman this year. I'm from Irwin, PA so I'm only about 15 minutes from home. I'm majoring in business management and I will also be taking online classes from the Art Institute at Pittsburgh for interior design. My roommate is Courtney DiBridge, who also plays for the girls' basketball team here. We went to high school together at Hempfield Area and we've been playing basketball together for many years now. We're best friends and happy to be rooming together. I picked Pitt at Greensburg because it was close to home. I didn't really want to go too far away, and also because I love the campus. I'm excited for the season to get started and I can't wait for all the good times to come. I have a good feeling about this year, and I'm ready to kick some butt on the court! Coach Eaton is awesome and I hope we can make her proud as a team this year.

Lindsey McKamish, Freshman ; #10

Hello I am Lindsey McKamish an incoming freshman to this program. I am from Fox Chapel, Indian Township. I am staying in Robert Shaw with Kayla Golden another great girl on the team. I picked University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg because of the lovely campus it is on. Coach Eaton is a great coach and such a motivator. The girls on this team are so amazing and close we love one another so much! I am so excited to get the season started and to win our conference !!!!

Morgan Biddle,Freshman,#35

Hellllo Bloggers,I'm Morgan Biddle. I am a biology major, looking into Occupational Therapy or Speech Therapy. This is the first blog I have ever done so bear with me. I'm a freshman and I'll play wherever Coach puts me. But I am most comfortable playing in the post position. I was a little nervous coming to Pitt-Greensburg because I wouldn't know anyone besides my roommate,the beautiful Brittany Butterworth. But since I've been here I've met the other freshman girls on the team and I love them! It makes me really excited for season,because when you have a team that gets along,the team plays like a team,and that is really important. Talking to all the girls shows me we are all hardworking and willing to put time in to making our season a giant success. I want this years seniors to leave feeling proud of our team and happy that they were a part of it, not disappointed with a bad season. And I think that is completely possible they will be happy with the season. I'm looking forward to practicing, games, and good times to come!!

Brittany Butterworth, Freshman#13

Hey everyone, my name is Brittany Butterworth and I'm from Howard, PA. I am majoring in biology and my dream job would be a marine biologist or environmental researcher. I live in the lovely Robertshaw and my roomie is Morgan Biddle. I picked Pitt Greensburg because I love the small campus feel and i love everything about Pittsburgh. I really feel like this year we are going to take the season by storm. Other teams won't know what to do with our fast moving, full force, aggressive pace. All the girls on this team are hard workers and I can already tell we will connect so well on and off the court. So excited for this season!! Lets Go Bobcats!!

Lexi Elliott, Freshman, 22

Hey y'all, I'm Lexi and I'm from Gilbert, Arizona. I'm majoring in Biology and hope to pursue a career as a veterinarian for large and exotic animals. I live in Robertshaw hall and my roommate is Celena Meighan. This will be my 4th year playing basketball and i love my team. My teammates and their families have really welcomed me here and have made it easy to make pitt-greensburg my new home. I think this group of girls is going to go far this year. We all seem like hard workers and can't wait for preseason and season to start.

Taylor Tresatti, Sophomore, #21

Hey guys,

This will be my second year on the team and my first season as a bobcat was full of definite highs and lows , but from the relentless coaching from Coach Eaton, I believe I played some of the best basketball of my life. You are definitely pushed to your limits, but in the end the results will show. I'm definitely excited for this coming season with all of the new talent (and to actually have more than one substitute!). No matter what anyone says about us this year, I know we have the potential to shock a lot of people and do awesome. Work hard, play your game, and just HAVE FUN.


“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
-Michael Jordan

Let's make it happen :)

3 DAYS UNTIL THE FRESHMEN ARRIVE!!!

Everyone is excited...even GNOMUS...

Changing Roles...

Since I was a little kid I have always has had a strong love for the game of basketball. My dad was my first coach and was my coach throughout grade school and high school. When I went off to college, he was at every game he could be at. It went from him coaching from the sidelines to after the game we would talk about things I did well and what I could do better for the next game. He has always been my biggest asset throughout my basketball career.

Deciding on a college was an easy choice for me. I came to UPG because it was known for a great education and it was a place where I could continue my basketball career.

My career at UPG had its ups and downs. Coming in as a freshman I was scared to death. I had to learn all the new plays and try to earn a spot on the court while keeping my grades up in the classroom. During my sophomore year we had the season of a life time, and made it to the NCAA National Tournament in Michigan. My junior year was very hard for me; I was dealing with a knee injury for most of the season. My senior year at UPG was not only my best season as a bobcat but also it was the start of a new bobcat tradition.

Coach Eaton has taught me different aspects of the game and it has made me look at basketball in a different way. She has focused on the small things that can change the outcome of a game. This method of coaching demands 100 percent from the players to be successful. I had trouble wrapping my head around what she called the system in the beginning. However, day in and day out with hard work, dedication and practice, the system began working. Coach Eaton has changed my outlook of the game for the better. I love this system because it will always demand 100 percent from each player. From making a game winning three or learning a defense in practice. Coach Eaton has showed me that each player on the team has an importance from the super star to the last girl on the bench. In fact, when I bought into her system and believed in myself it led to a great season for me individually. I have learned so much from coach, I want to share my knowledge with all of you. As your assistant coach, my advice to you is to always work 100 percent to not only succeed individually but also succeed as a team.

It was a privilege playing basketball for UPG for four years and I am so excited to be part of the coaching staff this year.

Coach Pioli

Let The Blogging Begin...

As our players very well know, providing me with a forum that is not limited by time or number of words to talk about our team could be a very scary thing. In fact, my first post may last for days. For anyone who is wondering how I can be banned from accessing the blog, no worries...I'm going to leave most of the blogging up to our team. I know their families and friends will be waiting to hear how amazing of a time they're having at Pitt-Greensburg.

For those of you who don't know, I am in the midst of my second year as the Head Coach at Pitt-Greensburg. I absolutely love our campus -- aside from a beautiful lay-out, we offer great options for on-campus living, small class sizes, and consistent growth and expansion. Academically, I am proud to say that our students graduate with a University of Pittsburgh degree -- a degree that is both recognized and respected across the country.

All of these factors, as well as an opportunity to define the future of Bobcat Basketball, allowed us to welcome nine new freshmen to our squad. Eight of these student-athletes are from the state of Pennsylvania, while Lexi is making the 29 hour drive from Gilbert, AZ. All nine of them are moving into Robertshaw (the dorm right up the hill from our gymnasium) next Thursday, August 25. I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome them to our basketball family.

The excitement surrounding the upcoming season is almost too much for me to handle :) Along with a deep, talented recruiting class, we return seniors Casey Stanton, Ali Bilak, and Kourtney Laratonda. Sophomore Taylor Tresatti rounds out our thirteen player roster. Casey was the 2010-2011 AMCC Player of the Year, while Ali was an AMCC Honorable Mention selection. Kourtney and Taylor both provide us with experience and solid shooting ability at the off-guard position.

Aside from being my first recruiting class, there's just something special about this group of freshmen. We have all-section players, defensive stoppers, three-point specialists, a 1,000 point scorer, and the hardest working freshmen class in the nation (I'll let them introduce themselves later). I hear a lot of coaches say that “gym rats” don't exist anymore, but I don't buy it. We found nine of them. I think the world of our four returners, and I'm so excited to watch this group grow together under their leadership.

Now that I'm done rambling, I'd like to give a special shout-out to Caelyn Disanti and Qiuana Brown, our assistant coaches last season, who both accepted full-time jobs elsewhere. Coach D will be teaching special education at a school in South Carolina. “Q” is an associate account executive at ADP and will be graduating from Duquesne with her Master's degree in corporate communications and integrated marketing. From the entire BOBCAT FAMILY...congrats, we couldn't be happier for you both!!

It will be a hard task to replace last year's assistant coaches, but I'm sure our new assistant coach, Brooke Pioli, is up for the challenge. Brooke was a four-year member of the Bobcat Basketball squad, and she's one of the best pure shooters I've ever had the pleasure to coach.

Well, I guess that's it for now...
GO BOBCATS!!!

--Coach Eaton