Feb. 27, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions (11-16, 6-11) close out the regular-season with a trip to Big Ten regular-season champion #14/14 Ohio State (23-5, 14-3) on Sunday at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. A win versus the Buckeyes will secure the seventh seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament for the Lady Lions.
TV/RADIO/WEB: The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Tom Werme and Patricia Babcock McGraw calling the action. The contest can also be heard on the Penn State Sports Radio Network with Jerry Fisher (play-by-play) and Stacey Brewer (color) describing play. The game will air locally WMAJ. The audio feed and a link to GameTracker are available at www.GoPSUSports.com.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes clinched a share of their fifth-straight regular-season with a win over Wisconsin on Thursday night. OSU is now 23-5 overall and 14-3 in Big Ten play. Preseason Player of the Year Jantel Lavender has lived up to the hype, averaging 20.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Star Allen accounts for 10.4 tallies per outing, while freshman Samantha Prahalis also averages double figures (10.0) while leading the Big Ten in assists (5.8).
ALL-TIME VS. THE BUCKEYES: The Lady Lions are 30-17 all-time against the Buckeyes, but have dropped their last nine contests to Ohio State. Penn State is 11-7 in games in Columbus. This is the only regular-season game between the squads. Last season, the Buckeyes posted an 89-53 win at Value City Arena and barley escaped the Jordan Center with an 87-84 victory.
LAST TIME VS. OSU: In a game that featured 18 ties and 16 lead changes, the Lady Lions gave a valiant offensive effort, but it was all for naught as #18/22 Ohio State handed Penn State a heartbreaking 87-84 loss on Feb. 28. Kam Gissendanner carried the Lady Lions on their back with a season-high 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting in her final game at the BJC. Brianne O'Rourke added 17 points and three assists, while Janessa Wolff posted her second career double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Lions were sluggish after an emotional Senior Night ceremony, but bounced back to score 46 second-half points en route to a 65-50 win over Northwestern Thursday night at the Bryce Jordan Center. Tyra Grant did her best to send the seniors out in style with 23 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals. Senior Mashea Williams tallied 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
WILLIAMS OUT WITH A BANG: Senior guard Mashea Williams went out with a bang in her final performance as she registered 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals in the Senior Night win over Northwestern on Feb. 26. Her nine rebounds tied her season high, previously set against Iowa, and her scoring effort pushed her over the 800-point plateau for her career.
GRANT ON NAISMITH MID-SEASON LIST: Junior guard Tyra Grant is one of 30 mid-season candidates for the 2009 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T, which was announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Grant is one of three Big Ten players on the mid-season list, joining Ohio State's Jantel Lavender and Purdue's Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton. The top 30 women's list was voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The winner will be announced at the Women's Final Four in St. Louis.
150 BJC WINS: With their 65-50 win over Northwestern on Feb. 26, the Lady Lions earned their 150th win at the Bryce Jordan Center. In 14 seasons in the BJC, the Lady Lions are 150-37 for an 80.2% winning percentage.
14TH TO 1,400: Junior guard Tyra Grant became the 14th player in school history to reach the 1,400-point mark with a 23-point performance against Nortwestern on Feb. 26. It was the 15th 20-point game of the season for Grant and the 26th of her career.
QUINN OUT FOR SEASON: Junior guard Meggan Quinn will miss the remainder of the season after tearing the ACL in her left knee at practice on Feb. 25. She had previously torn the ACL and MCL in her right knee during the 2006-07 campaign. Quinn averaged 2.8 points per game in 19 appearances, including six starts, this season. The junior also had 12 rebounds, 12 assists and five steals on the year. Earlier this season, Quinn registered a career-high 16 points, including a 4-for-8 day from behind the arc, go along with three assists in the win over Coppin State. She also made her first career start versus Stony Brook, accounting for 14 points, including a 5-for-5 effort from the free throw line.
TY'S 20S: With 23 tallies against Northwestern on Feb. 26, junior Tyra Grant reached the 20-point plateau for the 15th time this season and the 26th in her career. Her 15 20-point games this season are the most by a Lady Lion since Kelly Mazzante had 17 games with 20 or more points during the 2003-04 season. Grant leads the Big Ten in scoring in conference games with a 20.3 per game average, 0.8 points ahead Jantel Lavender.
The Lady Lions will travel to Indianapolis for the 2009 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament on March 5-8. Seeding for the tournament will be determined following Sunday's games. For information on Lady Lion Basketball tickets, call the Penn State ticket office at 814-865-5555.