| Rene Portland will be coaching her 800th game at Penn State when she leads her Lady Lions into action Sunday at Northwestern. The game is slated to tip off at 3 p.m. ET, Fans can listen to the game on the Penn State Sports Network and at www.GoPSUsports.com where a link to the GameTracker feature will also be available. Portland has built a remarkable resume during her time on the Penn State sideline, leading her teams to five Big Ten Championships, two Big Ten Tournament titles and one Final Four appearance. |
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. January 20, 2006 - Women's basketball icon Rene Portland will coach her 800th game on the Penn State sideline when she leads her Lady Lions into action on Sunday at Northwestern. The game is slated to tip off at 3 p.m. ET. Fans can listen to the game on the Penn State Sports Network and at www.GoPSUsports.com, where a link to the GameTracker feature will also be available.
During her 25-plus years heading up the Lady Lions' bench, Portland has built a remarkable resume. She has led Penn State to five Big Ten Championships (seven conference titles overall) and two Big Ten Tournament titles (eight conference tourney titles overall). She has accumulated a 585-214 record at Penn State, won two WBCA National Coach of the Year Awards and guided her team to the 2000 Final Four. Portland has not limited her influence to just basketball, and was recently honored as the Penn State Renaissance Fund Person of the Year, a prestigious award given to a person who has positively impacted the University and community.
Portland and the Lady Lions (7-10, 1-5) are still looking for their first conference road win of the year. The team is coming off a tough 70-56 loss at No. 11/11 Purdue on Thursday. Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) scored 22 in that game. Gissendanner has been on fire as of late, and is averaging 18.0 ppg over the last three contests, up nearly three points from her season average of 15.3 ppg. Amanda Brown (Kennett Square, Pa.) tops the Lady Lions in the scoring column on the season, averaging 15.5 ppg and a team-best 7.3 rpg. Brown's numbers rank sixth in the Big Ten in both categories. Freshman Brianne O'Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.) is dishing out a team and Big Ten-best 5.4 assists per game, while fellow freshman Mashea Williams (Erie, Pa.) leads all the Penn State first years in the points column with 7.7 on the season.
Penn State leads Northwestern, 21 games to 5, in the overall series and 8 games to 3 in Evanston. The Lady Lions and Wildcats split the series last season, with each team winning at home. The loss at Evanston was Penn State's first to Northwestern since 1997.
Northwestern (4-13, 0-6) has struggled this year and has won just four contests. The Wildcats have not won a Big Ten game thus far, but have knocked off Creighton, University of Illinois-Chicago, Miami (Ohio) and Saint Mary's. Northwestern is led by Ifeoma Okonkwo, who is averaging 13.5 ppg this season and a team-best 8.1 rpg. Okonkwo is also the team's steal leader, with 35 to her credit on the season. A.J. Glasauer is also averaging double-digit scoring figures at 11.6 ppg. Second-year head coach Beth Combs leads the team on the bench. Combs directed Northwestern to an upset win over the Lady Lions last year in Evanston. As a team Northwestern is shooting 39 percent from the field, 33 percent from the 3-point line and 67 percent from the free throw line.
Sunday's game is the third in a three-game road stretch for Penn State. The Lady Lions return home on Thursday, Jan. 26 to face Iowa at 7 p.m.
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.
Fans interested in buying all-session tickets for the NCAA First and Second Round Games at the Bryce Jordan Center on March 18 and 21 should contact the Penn State ticket office at 1-800-863-3336 or 814-865-5555. All-session tickets will gain the bearer entry to all three sessions. Adult all-session tickets for the six-game, two-day event are available for $42. Penn State students, youth under 18 and senior citizens (60 or above) can purchase tickets for only $18. Fans may also purchase tickets by downloading a ticket brochure and returning the adjoining application to the Penn State ticket office at the address provided. The brochure, and additional information on the NCAA Tournament Games at the Bryce Jordan Center are available online at http://www.gopsusports.com/BasketballW/NCAATourney/
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.