Feb. 20, 2009
2009 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State Page
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions (9-16, 4-11) will play the final of three WBCA Pink Zone games this season when they travel to Illinois (8-18, 4-11) on Sunday at 3 p.m. (Eastern). The Illini will be sporting pink uniforms for breast cancer awareness and the Lions will dress in gray uniforms for Sunday's contest. The Lions and Illini are currently tied for eighth place in the Big Ten standings.
RADIO/WEB: A tape-delayed video stream of the game is available on BigTenNetwork.com beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern time. The contest can be heard on the Penn State Sports Radio Network with Jerry Fisher (play-by-play) and Stacey Brewer (color) calling the action. The game will air locally WMAJ. The audio feed and a link to GameTracker are available at www.GoPSUSports.com.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS: The Illini, who had the bye date on Thursday night, are 8-18 overall and 4-11 in conference. Jenna Smith leads the team with an 18.0 scoring mark and 50 blocked shots. She also contributes 8.4 rebounds per game. Lacey Simpson has been solid for the Illini, accounting for 11.3 points per game to go along with team-best marks of 9.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals per outing.
ALL-TIME VS. THE ILLINI: The Lady Lions lead the all-time series with Illinois by a 22-12 margin, but are just 6-9 in Champaign. The squads have split the last six regular season meetings as the home team has been victorious each time. On Dec. 28, Penn State earned a 54-51 victory at the BJC. Last season, the Lady Lions claimed a 49-48 victory over the Illini in Happy Valley thanks to a last second charge by Mashea Williams, while Illinois picked up a 20-point (69-49) win in Champaign.
LAST TIME VS. ILL: The Lady Lions used a 10-3 run over the final six-plus of the game and fended off a pair of game-tying three-point attempts to rally for a 54-51 victory over Illinois on Sunday at the Bryce Jordan Center. Junior guard Tyra Grant notched her fourth consecutive game with 20 or more points as she accumulated 21 tallies to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Senior guard Brianne O'Rourke contributed nine points, four assists and a game-high five steals.
THREE PINK DAYS: The Lady Lions will participate in final of three WBCA Pink Zone days this season. Penn State when they face Illinois at Assembly Hall on Sunday, Feb. 22. The Lady Lions sported their pink uniforms on Sunday, Feb. 1 at Iowa to help raise awareness for breast cancer and hosted their third Pink Zone day on Sunday, Feb. 15 against the Hawkeyes.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Lions ran into a balanced Purdue scoring attack on the way to a 69-51 loss at the Bryce Jordan Center Thursday night. Sophomore Julia Trogele narrowly missed her third career double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. She also added two assists and two steals in the loss. Junior guard Tyra Grant led the Lady Lions with 14 points to go along with six rebounds and a steal
SIGNEE GREENE SELECTED TO WBCA ALL-AMERICA GAME: Future Lady Lion Nikki Greene is one of 20 players that has been selected to play in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) High School All-America Game presented by Nike. The game will take place on Saturday, April 4 in St. Louis, Missouri as part of the Women's Final Four festivities. Greene is the eighth Lady Lion recruit to participate in the 18-year history WBCA All-America game, joining the likes of Kim Calhoun, Tina Nicholson, Helen Darling and current assistant coach Maren Walseth. Greene will begin her Lady Lion career in 2009-10.
LADY LIONS JERSEYS AVAILABLE AT ONLINE AUCTION: The inaugural Pink Zone Online Auction that will run from Monday, Feb. 9 through Monday, Feb. 23. The Lady Lions will auction off all 13 of their Pink Zone game-worn jerseys, as well as other items, including a seven-day timeshare stay for anywhere in the world, Penn State experiences and autographed memorabilia. For more information on the Pink Zone Online Auction, visit the Pink Zone auction website at http://psupinkzone.cstvauctions.com.
COMRADES IN ORANGE: Senior guard Mashea Williams and freshman guard Zhaque Gray will square off against former high school teammates today when Penn State faces Illinois. Williams and Illini senior Chelsea Gordon joined forces to lead Mercyhurst Prep to back-to-back PIAA State Championships in 2004 and 2005. Gray and Illinois walk-on Melissa Thompson guided Prep John Hope to the Chicago Public League Championship and a 29-2 record last season.
The Lady Lions travel to Illinois on Sunday, Feb. 22 for the Illini Pink Zone Day at 3 p.m. (Eastern), before returning to the Jordan Center to face Northwestern on Senior Day on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. The Lady Lions will also celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day against the Wildcats. For information on Lady Lion Basketball tickets, call the Penn State ticket office at 814-865-5555.
The 2009 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State proudly supported by Mimi Barash Coppersmith online auction will run until Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. Items that will be available up for bid include all 13 of the uniforms worn by the Lady Lions for the Pink Zone game, as well as a one-week timeshare for anywhere in the world, Penn State football experiences, NASCAR experience and autographed memorabilia. For more information on the Pink Zone Online Auction, visit the Pink Zone auction website (http://psupinkzone.cstvauctions.com). The funds raised from the online auction benefit the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.
Dine at Harrison's the week after WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State game on February 15, 2009 and mention Pink Zone and 20% of the check before taxes and gratuity will directly benefit Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. There is no limit to the number of times you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner between February 16 - 21, 2009 to benefit these charities. The more that you, your family and friends enjoy delicious food at Harrison's, the greater the fundraising benefit! In fact, tell others who would like to support our efforts, just have them mention the Lady Lions Pink Zone, WBCA or simply, the fight against Breast Cancer when they dine at Harrison's that week and we will continue to score important funds to beat breast cancer! Harrison's is locally owned and conveniently located on E. College Avenue, within the Hilton Garden Inn.