| Amanda Brown helped secure the Lady Lions' 69-54 victory over Wisconsin with a double-double performance of 15 points and 13 rebounds. The win was Penn State's first Conference win this year. |
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. January 8, 2006 - Penn State used a 17-2 run in the second half to pull away from a pesky Wisconsin team and defeat the Badgers, 69-54, Sunday at the Bryce Jordan Center in front of 7,036.
Mashea Williams (Erie, Pa.) scored a career high 20 points in the win while Amanda Brown (Kennett Square, Pa.) tallied a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Kamela Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) added 14 and Adrienne Squire (Indianapolis, Ind.) chipped in 10. For Wisconsin (6-9, 1-3) Jolene Anderson scored 15.
The win was extra special for Penn State as many Lady Lion alumni were on hand for a special alumni reunion. In addition, at halftime Penn State honored the 1991 Lady Lions on the 15th anniversary of their ascent to No. 1 in the polls. In honor of the occasion, the current Lady Lions wore retro uniforms in the style worn by the terrific 1991 team.
The first 23 minutes of the game went back and forth with neither team gaining a substantial edge on the scoreboard. With the game tied at 35 points apiece at the 17:30 mark, Penn State (7-8, 1-3) then went on a 17-2 run to take a 52-37 lead with just under eight minutes to play. Williams scored 11 points in that span to fuel the run, including several slashing moves to the basket. The freshman guard, who started the second half, sparked the Lady Lions on both ends of the floor, and finished the game with a game high three steals to go along with her 20 points and six rebounds. On the defensive side Williams drew the assignment of the Badgers' leading scorer Anderson and Williams held her perimeter counterpart to just five points in the crucial second half.
Williams also anchored the tough trapping full-court press that head coach Rene Portland has begun turning to defensively. The press helped force Wisconsin into 15 turnovers in the game, including six in the big second-half Penn State scoring run.
The Lady Lions got a standing ovation from the 7,000-plus crowd at the end of the game, but it was the second standing "O" of the day. Squire, who came into the game with a record string of 57 straight free throws made her first three to move the streak to 60. On her 61st attempt, however, the ball bounced out. Although the streak came to an end, Lady Lion fans showed Squire their appreciation for her remarkable shooting streak with a long standing applause. Squire, who has made 60 of 61 free throws in her career, including 50 of 51 this season, set the new Penn State single season and career marks. She was only six away from the NCAA Division I record of 66.
In the first half Penn State and Wisconsin traded baskets in a period that saw five ties and three lead changes. Brown led all scorers before the break with 12 points while the Badgers' Anderson led Wisconsin with 10. The Badgers took a three-point lead with a little over eight minutes to go, but Gissendanner helped Penn State regain the lead with seven straight points over the next minute and a half to help put the Lady Lions up by two with 6:35 to play. Wisconsin tied the game for the fourth time with a jumper at the 5:45 mark, but Brown hit two layups to put Penn State back up by four with just over four minutes in the period. Anderson hit a 3-pointer to slice into the lead, Brown answered with another layup, and Wisconsin hit the final shot before the break to go into the locker down, 28-29.
The Lady Lions' next three games are on the road beginning with a Thursday, Jan. 12 matchup at Illinois at 8 p.m. ET. The Lady Lions have the weekend off from game action and then travel to Purdue for a 7 p.m. mathchup on Thursday, Jan. 19. The last game of the swing will be on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. ET. at Northwestern. Penn State returns home on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. to face Iowa. As usual, all home and away games are broadcast over the radio on the Penn State Sports Network. Penn State's official athletics website, www.GoSUsports.com will provide links to the audio feed and the GameTracker feature.
"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.