On a team full of veterans, sophomore Shay Ciezki is making an impact for the Lady Lions

Compared to most sophomore collegiate athletes, Shay Ciezki is a rarity.

In her freshman season with Penn State women’s basketball in 2022-23, she was a starter in all but one of her 30 games played. And before the current season started, head coach Carolyn Kieger made a bold prediction about Ciezki.

“I’m gonna say this with all confidence in me, I think she’s going to have one of the best sophomore campaigns in the country this year,” Kieger said.

That high praise hasn’t disappointed so far. On a team full of veterans, Ciezki leads the 15-5 Lady Lions, who look to be trending toward an NCAA Tournament appearance, in total minutes played with 560.

Eight of Penn State’s other 11 current players are in their third season or higher. Ciezki is considered one of the team’s young players, but both on and off the court, you’d never know it.

Standing at 5-foot-7, she’s undersized in comparison to her opponents and teammates. However, that hasn’t slowed her down from becoming one of the best offensive guards in the Big Ten.

“I’m a small player in the basketball world,” Ciezki said in December.

Her coaches and teammates rave about her kind and infectious personality. Ciezki’s high school coach, Anthony Ottomano, called her “hilarious” when you get to know her and said he thinks her faith keeps her both grounded and humble.

“She’s as good of a person off the court as she is on,” Ottomano said in December.

Ciezki’s opportunity on the court as a sophomore hasn’t come by chance; she’s been a basketball star long before she started wearing blue and white.

High school ball

Growing up in Lancaster, New York — just outside of Buffalo — Ciezki played high school ball for the St. Mary’s Lancers under Ottomano.

Having coached Ciezki in her youth through AAU teams, Ottomano said her talent was somewhat of a well-kept secret as her freshman year approached.

“We knew she was gonna be a special basketball player as a freshman,” he said. “She possessed a lot of basketball skills early on.”

The Lancers coach also said that Ciezki entered St. Mary’s as a “small, skinny, lanky guard,” that wanted to earn the respect of her new teammates before she took on a significant on-court role as a freshman. Over time though, her skills and leadership grew as she became the focal point of every opposing coach’s defensive game plan.

“We had teams that just put three (defenders) on her, and it became a mental challenge for her to overcome,” Ottomano said.

She would leave the St. Mary’s program as a three-time captain, a four-time team MVP and the No. 56 overall recruit in the country, according to ESPN.

Before she left though, she put together an unforgettable performance, leading St. Mary’s to the 2022 Class A State Championship with a 51-point outing in the title game.

“I kind of blacked out during that performance,” Ciezki said. “It was a pretty special night, because it kind of just saw all my work really translate onto the floor.”

The 50-piece ended her dominant senior season with a bang.

“That year, she averaged 35 points, and it was the most unselfish 35 points I’d ever seen,” Ottomano said.

“She got her teammates involved when she knew she was gonna get a double or a triple team, and she dealt with the outcome whether it was a made basket or a missed basket,” he said. “She never got on her teammates in a negative way.”

Newest Lady Lion

Even through a COVID-shortened junior season that held back her 2,181 high school career point total, Ciezki established herself as one of the best young women’s basketball players that Western New York had ever seen.

In 2024, she still holds the St. Mary’s records in career points, assists, 3-pointers and steals.

Kieger officially signed Ciezki to play at Penn State in November 2021. Being close to home and having a standout group of new coaches and teammates played a key role in Ciezki’s commitment to the Lady Lions.

“She wanted to choose a school where she felt right with the coaches, but (also) where she could try to make an immediate impact,” Ottomano said.

Ciezki accomplished that for the blue and white in her freshman season, finishing second on the team with 11.8 points per game and leading the Lady Lions in threes (64) and three-point percentage (41.6%).

She’s the closest thing to a sharpshooter you’ll find in college basketball. With each 3-pointer, she flares her left elbow out to her side, shoots with her right hand and finishes with a long follow-through. Ciezki will let it fly at any opportunity — it doesn’t matter if it’s a catch-and-shoot or self-created shot.

“I work hard on my shot every single day, making sure it’s basically perfect and where I want it to be,” Ciezki said.

Shooting isn’t the limit of her game, though; the sophomore has a feel for basketball’s offensive flow that’s made her a solid playmaker at the collegiate level. Ciezki prides herself on being an all-around player, trusting her teammates no matter what squad she’s on.

“Whoever has that great shot, that’s what I’m gonna take in that moment,” she said.

Much to the appreciation of her coaches and teammates, you’ll never see her take a possession off. Ciezki values hustle and physicality on both ends of the floor as much as anybody, even with some physical defensive limitations.

“I just have the discipline to want to get better and want to be great for my team,” she said.

Budding star

Ciezki’s basketball talent is a product of her commitment. Those who’ve watched her grow over time, especially her Penn State coaches, have taken notice.

“When you hear the word ‘gym rat’ and you look that up, you’re gonna see a picture of Shay Ciezki in the dictionary,” Kieger said before the current season. “She works diligently on her craft. She’s in the gym all the time.”

After going 14-17 last season, the Lady Lions are 15-5 through 19 games in 2023-24. Ciezki, who’s averaging 14.1 points per game, has played a big role in that success.

After a 40-point game against Central Connecticut State on Dec. 20, she’s had some back-and-forth offensive games, averaging 10.5 points since. But Ciezki’s coach never lost faith in her ability to find a flow.

“With a great shooter like Shay, I don’t think anyone was concerned,” Kieger said last week. “We just kept reassuring her to keep shooting, take those shots.”

Penn State boasts more than a few solid guards, including transfer Ashley Owusu, who recently made her Lady Lions debut and has led the team to a 5-0 record since.

With so many ball handlers that can take over in any given game, it can be difficult to maintain an offensive rhythm. But if anybody on the team can handle it, its Ciezki — not only is she unselfish, but she can play both off-ball and on-ball.

“From here on out, she’ll just be locked and loaded, and you know, learning how to play with Ashley (Owusu),” Kieger said. “I think its coming a little more naturally to her now.”

Penn State already has a few impressive wins over 2023 NCAA Tournament teams this season and is rolling into February.

“This team has gelled so well,” Ciezki said. “When everyone got on campus, you could just feel like, ‘OK, this group, we’re gonna be good this year.’”

Currently, Ciezki ranks 16th in the Big Ten in points per game, sixth in 3-point percentage (40.3%) and fifth in total 3-pointers (52).

There’s been a consistent line of outstanding guards in Lady Lions history, including Helen Darling (1996-2000), Kelly Mazzante (2000-2004), Maggie Lucas (2010-2014) and Makenna Marisa, who runs out of collegiate eligibility after this season.

Ciezki could be next-up on that list, already flashing the skills, confidence and drive to be a leader for the program.

Her high school coach doesn’t see a cap on her ceiling.

“I think ultimately, if she pushes herself and continues to grow and stays healthy, we might be watching her at another level,” Ottomano said. “I don’t think there’s a limit to where she can go.”