| The Lady Lions host Wisconsin Sunday at 2 p.m. At halftime of the game, Penn State will honor the 1991 Lady Lions. Fifteen years ago the team became the first squad in program history to rise to No. 1 in the rankings. Members of the squad will be on-hand for the celebration, and the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a medallion commemorating the occasion. The current Lady Lions will be wearing retro-style uniforms, similar to those worn in 1991. |
Penn State game notes
Big Ten notes
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. January 6, 2006 - The Penn State women's basketball team has a wealth of tradition and honor in its history, and plenty of it will be present when the Lady Lions host Wisconsin on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Penn State will be honoring the 1991 Lady Lions on the 15th anniversary of their ascent to No. 1 in the polls. It was the first time a Lady Lion team had risen to the top ranking. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a special coin commemorating the occasion, and the current Lady Lions will be wearing retro-style uniforms, similar to the uniforms worn by the 1991 squad. The 1991 team will be honored during a halftime celebration of the squad's remarkable achievements.
The game will air live on WPSU-TV, CSTV, FSN-Pittsburgh and CN-8. The Penn State Sports Network will carry the radio broadcast, and www.GoPSUsports.com will provide links to the audio feed and the GameTracker feature.
Penn State is 20-4 all-time vs. Wisconsin and 18-4 against the Badgers since joining the Big Ten. Penn State has never lost at home to Wisconsin, and owns a 12-0 record on its home floor. The Lady Lions have won the last eight straight vs. Wisconsin, and 12 out of the last 13. Penn State has won the last eight games by an average margin of 17.4 points. The closest game in that string was a one-point victory in 2004, while the largest margin of victory over the last eight games came just last year when the Lady Lions won by 33 points.
Penn State (6-8, 0-3) has three players averaging double-digit scoring figures, led by Amanda Brown who is netting 15.5 ppg. Kamela Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) is putting up 14.7 ppg while Adrienne Squire is averaging 12.6 ppg. Brown tops the team in the rebounding category, pulling down 6.9 per game while Squire is second on the team with 4.4 per game. Freshman Brianne O'Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.) leads the team in assists with 5.6 per game, and minutes played, at 35.9 mpg.
Gissendanner (31.9) and Squire (32.8) are also averaging over 30 mpg. As a team the Lady Lions are shooting 44 percent from the field, 32 percent from the 3-point line and 77 percent from the free throw line. Penn State is netting 66.9 ppg, and giving up 68.6. The Lady Lions do hold a rebounding edge, pulling down 35.1 rpg to their opponents' 33.3.
Wisconsin (6-8, 1-2) snagged its first Big Ten win with a victory over Norhtwestern on Thursday. Jolene Anderson, last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, leads the team with 17.7 ppg while Janese Banks is chipping in 13.7 ppg. Anderson also leads the team on the boards, pulling down 7.2 per game. Wisconsin is shooting 41 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point line and 65 percent from the free throw line. In the Big Ten Wisconsin ranks fifth in scoring offense (71.0 ppg), ninth in scoring defense (68.4 ppg), 11th in free throw percentage (.65) and second in rebounding (42.1).
Squire did not attempt any free throws on Thursday at No. 11/2 Michigan State, and her record consecutive made free throws streak still stands at 57, including 47 this season. The 47 straight breaks the previous Penn State single-season record of 42, set in 1989-90 by current assistant coach Susan Robinson, while the 57 is a new Penn State career mark. Squire is the only player in the country shooting 100 percent from the free throw line (with a 2.5 per game minimum). The Division I record is 66 set by Richmond's Ginny Doyle from 1991-92, while the all-time NCAA women's basketball record is 69, set by Jamie Visness in 2002-03 of Division III Concordia-Moorhead. Indiana's Cyndi Valentin is also on a streak of her own. The Hoosier guard has connected on 56 straight.
Squire isn't the only Lady Lion flirting with the record books. Brown swatted two shots Thursday, moving her into sole possession of seventh place place all time on Penn State's career blocks charts with 94. Brown is on pace to become just the seventh Lady Lion ever amass 100 career blocks. O'Rourke added to the individual accomplishment mix when she became the first of Penn State's four freshmen to pass the 100-point plateau. O'Rourke passed the century mark on Thursday and has 106 points heading into Sunday's contest vs. Wisconsin. Mashea Williams (Erie, Pa.) has 69 to her credit, while Courtney Molinaro (Bethlehem, Pa.) has 48.
The 1991 Lady Lions will be remembered as one of Penn State's greatest teams. The squad opened the season with 11 straight wins before dropping its only regular season game of the year at No. 10 Rutgers. The Lady Lions then reeled off 18 straight wins en route to the Atlantic 10 Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Along the way the team climbed to No. 1 in the AP poll, and finished the year atop the rankings. Current assistant coach Susan Robinson led the team that year, snagging Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors and Kodak All-American accolades along the way. Robinson averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg during the season, which was her junior year. The team finished a perfect 9-0 in non-conference play and 17-1 in Atlantic 10 action. During the memorable season the Lady Lions defeated four top-25 teams, including a thrilling 73-71 victory at No. 1 Virginia.
Sunday's game will be the last at the Bryce Jordan Center for several weeks. The Lady Lions embark on a three-game road trip, beginning at Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 12. Penn State then plays at Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. before clashing at Northwestern on Sunday Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. ET. All games can be heard on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com, where a link to the GameTracker feature will also be available. The next home game is Thursday, Jan. 26 vs. Iowa at 7 p.m.
"Sunday FunDay" packages and single games tickets for the Lady Lions are still available. Tickets can be purchased at the Bryce Jordan Center ticket windows weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fans can also get tickets by calling 800-863-3336 or 865-5555 locally or visit www.GoPSUsports.com, the official website of Penn State Athletics. Tickets are also available by visiting the Downtown Ticket Center, Eisenhower Auditorium, and at the HUB ticket booth at the information desk. For groups of 10 or more, ticket discounts and preferred seating options are available by calling (814)863-6757.
Big Ten Tournament tickets are on sale now as well. To get tickets now, Penn State fans can go through the Penn State box office. Fans can also buy all-session tickets through Ticketmaster for $55 at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone numbers (570) 693-4100 in central Pennsylvania) or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
For group ticket information and a group order form, contact Justin Hirnisey of Indiana Sports Corporation at (317) 237-5026 or justin.hirnisey@indianasportscorp.com.