Jan. 7, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Junior guard Mashea Williams (Erie, Pa.) was selected as the Big Ten Women's Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals in two Lady Lion wins last week. She is the second Lady Lion to earn conference weekly honors this season, joining Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) who was the Dec. 17 recipient.
In Wednesday's thrilling 49-48 victory over Illinois, Williams found the perfect time to take her first defensive charge of the season as she stepped in front of Rebecca Harris at the buzzer to secure the win for the Lady Lions. Williams accounted for 13 points, including a 7-for-7 effort from the free throw line, eight rebounds and two steals.
Williams accounted for 11 of her 18 points in the second half of Saturday's 69-57 victory at Michigan State in front of a national television audience on CBS. Williams, who was 8-for-16 from the field, also grabbed six rebounds, dished out seven assists and registered two steals. She combine with point guard Brianne O'Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.) to single-handedly outscore the Spartans in the second frame, 24-21. The win over Michigan State snapped a 12-game Big Ten road losing streak for the Lady Lions, dating back to Jan. 22, 2006, and marked the 750th win in program history.
The Lady Lions are back in the Jordan Center to face Northwestern on Thursday at 7 p.m., before heading to Minnesota on Sunday, Jan. 13 for a 2 p.m. (Eastern) contest that will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Fans can purchase single-game tickets by visiting the Bryce Jordan Center box office, calling 814-865-5555 or 800-863-3336 or by clicking on the ticket link on www.GoPSUsports.com. The second annual THINK PINK Day is slated for Sunday, Feb. 10 versus Iowa at noon. For more information on THINK PINK Day, visit Penn State's official THINK PINK website at www.gopsusports.com/thinkpink.