Bland won't return to team

The former Boardman star was told she wouldn't be part of the team next year.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The Mahoning Valley's all-time leading scorer in girls basketball apparently is no longer wanted by the Nittany Lions.
Shortly after the fourth-seeded Penn State women's basketball team was bounced from the NCAA Tournament on Sunday by 13th-seeded Liberty, Nittany Lions coach Rene Portland informed freshman guard Amber Bland of Boardman that she would not be part of the team's plans for next season.
Two others also told
According to the Patriot News of Harrisburg, Portland told Bland, sophomore guard Jennifer Harris and freshman guard Lisa Etienne that they will not be welcomed back.
Attempts to reach Bland's parents were unsuccessful.
Penn State has not announced the dismissal. According to The Collegian, Penn State's student newspaper, Portland says she won't comment until the official status of a player has changed.
Bland, the Mahoning Valley's all-time leading scorer with 2,190 points, averaged 3.5 points in 29 games for Penn State this season. Bland averaged 13.8 minutes per game and had 28 steals.
Twice player of the year
Bland was The Vindicator's Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003. In four years, she led the Spartans to three Steel Valley Conference championships and one Federal League title.
But in tournament action, Bland's Spartans, who made their first state appearance this month, qualified just once for the regional tournament -- in Bland's freshman year in 2001. Boardman lost that year in the regional final to Cleveland East Tech, whose best player, Barbara Turner, now plays at Connecticut.
In Bland's sophomore, junior and senior seasons, the Spartans were eliminated by North Canton Hoover in the district final.
Sunday's loss snapped Penn State's three-year streak of reaching the Sweet 16.
Played in NCAA game
Bland missed both shots she took in the game. The Nittany Lions led 32-27 at halftime before surrendering 51 points in the second half. Liberty won the rebound battle, 39-35.
Harris told the Patriot News that she is seeking permission from the Penn State athletic department to speak to other schools about transferring.
The Lions will lose five players to graduation, including three starters. The major losses were guards Tanisha Wright (19.3 points per game) and Jess Strom (15.6). Harris averaged 10.4 points.