Tiana Moracco will forever have a place in Derry Area girls basketball history. Moracco established a bevy of records during her time with the Trojans, including single-game and career scoring marks. Now in her sophomore season with the University of Pitt-Greensburg, Moracco is a valuable component for the Bobcats. Moracco is the featured athlete in this installment of the Westmoreland Alum Q&A.

Moracco made the varsity roster as a freshman at Derry Area in the 2018-19 season. That year, the Trojans went 9-11 overall, including 7-7 in the section ledger, but failed to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

The following season, Derry Area enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, as the Trojans went 14-9 overall, including 11-3 in the section. In the WPIAL Class 3A postseason, however, the Trojans fell to Freedom Area in the first round, concluding their campaign.

Derry Area regressed during the abbreviated 2020-21 season, going just 3-11 overall, including 1-9 in section contests.

In Moracco’s senior season in 2021-22, she averaged approximately 21 points per game. In the process, she set the career and single-game scoring marks for DA. However, the Trojans compiled a record of 7-13, including 4-8 in the section, and did not qualify for the playoffs.

A three-time All-Section honoree, Moracco matriculated to the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg following her graduation.

As a freshman with the Bobcats last season, the forward played in 27 contests, including 14 starts. In that action, she posted 5.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest, adding 28 assists, 32 steals, and 9 blocks. Pitt-Greensburg compiled a record of 14-13 overall, including 9-5 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). In the AMCC Tournament, UPG defeated Mount Aloysius College, but lost to Penn State Behrend in the conference semifinals.

This season, Moracco is appeared in 15 games, starting all but one. She’s compiled averages of 12.5 points and 9.6 rebounds, while accumulating 33 assists, 15 steals, and eight blocks. To this point, UPG has gone 9-10, including 7-5 in AMCC play.

Tiana took time from her schedule to answer questions about her biggest area of growth during her time at UPG, her most enjoyable college class, and what it meant to break Derry Area’s scoring record.

Q: You frequently played off the bench last year, but have started nearly every game this season. What are your adjustments to the new role?

A: My adjustments to this new role aren't much different because I normally started in high school, and I started a few games last season. I would say now it's just always being ready from the jump, and using what we work on in practice in the games. With the numbers we have had this year on the team, I knew I had to step it up and become one of the leaders, along with three other girls on the team.

Q: What has been your biggest area of growth as a player during your time at UPG?

A: My biggest area of growth as a player has been my mentality and confidence within myself while out on the court. I was very timid and scared a lot of times when I would see minutes last season, but this year, I think I just realized that this is a game that I have been playing/practicing for years and I know how to play well.

Q: What team and individual goals did you set for this season?

A: The team goal I set for this year was making it to the championship game since last year we fell short against Penn State Behrend in the semifinal game. Also, I said that each of us always gives maximum effort, both in practice and in games. The individual goal I set for myself was to be a stronger rebounder, and I think I have hit that goal in a few of the games this year.

Q: The entire roster for the Bobcats comes from Western Pennsylvania. With which teammates did you have relationships or familiarity before you joined the program?

A: The teammate who I had familiarity with was Madison Scalese. Maddie and I go way back to elementary school, playing against each other when I went to Indiana, and then also playing against each other in middle school when I went to Blairsville. I saw her a few times during the AAU seasons, too.

Q: What led to your decision to attend Pitt-Greensburg?

A: My decision to attend Pitt-Greensburg was based on how tight-knit the community is here, and how close to home I am, and when I met Coach Kelsey, she made my decision so much easier.

Q: What is your major, and ideal future profession?

A: My major is biological sciences, and my ideal profession would be to open my own physical therapy practice.

Q: What has been your most enjoyable college course?

A: My most enjoyable college course so far would have to be one that I am taking right now, which is Drugs and Society. The class is research-based and we are in groups, instead of doing individual work. It's different than all my other classes that I have taken so far, and I am very interested in what we have been talking about so far.

Q: You set the career scoring record at Derry Area. What did that mean to you?

A: Setting the career scoring record at Derry really meant a lot to me. Going into my last basketball season in high school I set some goals for myself, and that wasn't a goal at first. My goal was to just hit 1,000 points, but when I beat the record for most points in a game, and was consecutively scoring around the same average, it became clear to me that the new goal was to surpass all-time scoring. It was a surreal feeling, but I couldn't have done it without my teammates, Coach Brisbane, and all of my supporters.

Q: What was your fondest high school memory?

A: My fondest high school memory was making it to the playoffs in my sophomore year. We had a good team that year, so being able to play with the older girls, and having Coach Brisbane as our new head coach just put a lot of things into perspective for me.

Q: What are the best qualities of your coach with the Trojans, Gene Brisbane?

A: There are so many great things to say about Coach Gene Brisbane - I think I could do a write up just about him. Not only is he an amazing coach, but he is also a wonderful person and someone who I have looked up to ever since I met him about five years ago. He is very compassionate, trusting, knowledgeable, patient, and the list could go on when it comes to him coaching the game and how he is with his players. He has so much under his belt, and it really shows when he coaches. Brisbane has been one of my top motivators when it comes to playing; he taught me a lot when I was playing at Derry, and even now when I speak to him, he always gives me the best advice. Being able to play for Coach Brisbane was an honor and I will forever cherish everything.

Q: If you could change one rule about college basketball, what would it be?

A: I think if I could change one rule about college basketball, it would be the three second rule in the paint. I would add a few seconds in there for forwards to be able to have a longer post up.

Q: Who is your celebrity dream date?

A: My celebrity dream date would have to be with Michael B. Jordan. I've always liked him, especially in the Creed movies.

Q: What is a little-known fact about you or a hidden talent you possess?

A: A hidden talent I possess is that I can sing, and not many people know of this because I am too shy. I usually just sing for my family.