| Senior post player Amanda Brown registered her 10th career double-double with 18 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. She also surpassed the 500 rebound mark for her career. |
- Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.; November 10, 2006 - The Lady Lions shot 49.1% from the field on the game and dominated in nearly every statistical category as the rolled to a 74-56 season-opening victory over Drexel Friday night at Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
Amanda Brown (Kennett Square, Pa.) made her final collegiate game in front of her hometown crowd special as she notched her 10th career double-double with 18 points, a career-high 17 rebounds and three blocked shots. The senior post player also surpassed the 500-rebound plateau for her career in the game.
Junior guard Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) propelled the Lady Lions to an 11-4 lead in the first 3:30 of the game as she scored nine of PSU??s first 11 points. She would go on to finish the contest with 15 points and four assists. Point guard Brianne O??Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had a solid all-around campaign to begin her sophomore season with 15 points, 11 of which came in the second half, five assists and five steals, while junior guard Adrienne Squire (Indianapolis, Ind.) was the fourth Lady Lion in double figures with 10 points.
The Lady Lions relied on the veteran players to get out to a first half as Brown (10 pts.) and Gissendanner (11) combined for 21 of Penn State??s 34 points. PSU finished the frame connecting 16 of 29 field goals for a 55.2% effort from the field. O??Rourke also had a solid start to the game, dishing out three assists and recording three steals in the opening frame. The Lady Lions kept Drexel??s star player Narissa Suber in check, allowing her to score just two points in the first period. PSU also held the Dragons to a 37.0% shooting percentage in the first 20 minutes.
Freshman Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) was impressive in her Penn State debut with a six-point, three-assist performance and sophomore forward Courtney Molinaro (Bethlehem, Pa.) was one of many bright spots on defense, grabbing seven rebounds and stealing three passes.
Suber rebounded for a strong second half and was the Dragons?? leading scorer with 18 points, while Gabriela Marginean added 12 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots for the home team.
The Lady Lions will begin a three-game home stand at the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday, November 12 at 2 p.m. against Syracuse. PSU will also play home games against South Carolina on Tuesday, November 14 and against Notre Dame on Thursday, November 16. The South Carolina and Notre Dame games are at 7 p.m.
Single-game tickets and ??Sunday FunDay?? packages for the 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.