| Senior Amanda Brown was selected to the Preseason All-Big Ten team. |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 29, 2006 - Senior forward/center Amanda Brown (Kennett Square, Pa.) was selected to the Preseason All-Big Ten team by both the conference??s head coaches and conference media members. Additionally, the Lady Lions were picked to finish fourth in both preseason polls.
??We are extremely thrilled that Amanda has earned this honor,?? head coach Rene Portland said. ??She is very excited about her senior year and this is a great way to kick it off.??
Brown was a second team All-Big Ten selection as she started 29 games last season. She was one of two players in the Big Ten (Ohio State??s Jessica Davenport) to finish in the Top 10 in the conference in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage. For the second-straight year, the Montreal, Quebec native played with the Canada Senior National Team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in September.
??We are looking forward to the start of the season. The strength of the Big Ten and the great teams in the conference will make it a very competitive season,?? Portland said. ??The challenges that this league provides are enough to prepare any team for the NCAA Tournament.??
The Lady Lions are looking to improve on their 13-16 overall record and 6-10 Big Ten mark from last season. In addition to Brown, Penn State will rely heavily on junior co-captain Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.), junior guard Adrienne Squire (Indianapolis, Ind.) and sophomore point guard Brianne O??Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.).
Gissendanner is coming off of a season that saw her earn All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades after averaging 14.8 points per game. She was 28th in the NCAA in free throw percentage with an 85.9% effort. Gissendanner was also second on the squad in assists and notched 20-straight double-digit scoring games at one point last season.
Now in her second season guiding the Lady Lion offense, O??Rourke looks to build upon the rookie season in which she earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors and a selection to the honorable mention All-Big Ten squad by the media. She led the conference and finished 34th in the NCAA in assists per game at a 5.1 clip. O??Rourke also posted the fourth-highest freshman assist total in Lady Lion history (149). The Pittsburgh native was the only freshman in the Big Ten to finish in the Top 10 in the conference in assists, steals, assist-to-turnover ratio and minutes played. (more)
Squire will continue to be the sharp-shooter for the Lady Lions. The junior guard broke the NCAA single-season record for free throw percentage with a 96.8% mark (80-83). She also broke the Penn State record for consecutive free throws made when she connected on 60-straight shots from the charity stripe, dating back to 2004-05. Squire was also third on the team in scoring (11.4) and rebounding (4.2).
The Lady Lions open their season at Drexel on Friday, November 10 before coming home for a three-game stretch beginning on Sunday, November 12 against Syracuse. Single-game tickets for Lady Lions may be purchased by visiting the ticket section of GoPSUsports.com or by calling the ticket office at 814-865-5555. Women's single game tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for students and youth (under 18). Mini ticket plans are also available.
2006-07 BIG TEN WOMEN??S BASKETBALL PRESEASON HONORS
TEAM RANKINGS ?C COACHES
1. Ohio State *
2. Purdue
3. Michigan State
4. PENN STATE
5. Iowa
6. Wisconsin
7. Illinois
8. Minnesota
9. Michigan
10. Indiana
11. Northwestern
TEAM RANKINGS ?C MEDIA
1. Ohio State *
2. Purdue
3. Michigan State
4. PENN STATE
5. Iowa
6. Wisconsin
7. Illinois
8. Indianav
9. Minnesota
10. Michigan
11. Northwestern
PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN ?C COACHES
Megan Skouby, IOWA, SO, C
Jessica Davenport, OSU, SR, C *
AMANDA BROWN, PSU, SR, F/C
Katie Gearlds, PUR, SR, G/F *
Jolene Anderson, WIS, JR, G
PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN ?C MEDIA
Megan Skouby, IOWA, SO, C
Jessica Davenport, OSU, SR, C *
AMANDA BROWN, PSU, SR, F/C
Katie Gearlds, PUR, SR, G/F *
Jolene Anderson, WIS, JR, G
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR ?C COACHES
Jessica Davenport, OSU, SR, C
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR ?C MEDIA
Jessica Davenport, OSU, SR, C
* - indicates unanimous selection