Feb. 3, 2009
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions (8-12, 3-7) return to the Bryce Jordan Center after back-to-back road games to host Minnesota (15-6, 7-3) on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The last time the Lady Lions were at the Jordan Center, fans were treated to the biggest comeback on record in school history as PSU downed Wisconsin in overtime on Jan. 22.
PROMOTIONS: Fan will receive blue & white shakers at the gate, while supplies last. Fans can also partake in Dollar Dog Night at the BJC where fans can purchase a Berks Hot Dog for just $1. Thursday is also a PNC 2 for $16 night where PNC customers can purchase two adult tickets to Thursday night's game for just $16.
TV/RADIO: A live video stream of the game is available on BigTenNetwork.com. The contest can be heard on the Penn State Sports Radio Network with Jerry Fisher (play-by-play) and Kellie Goodman (color) calling the action. The game will air locally WRSC. The audio feed and a link to live stats are available at www.GoPSUSports.com.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Lions and the Iowa Hawkeyes tangled in a battle for the ages on Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as the squads combined for the longest women's basketball game in arena history. The Hawkeyes found their rhythm at the right time and prevailed 97-89 in triple overtime. Junior Tyra Grant tied her career high with 33 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Seniors Brianne O'Rourke and Mashea Williams had season-best performances with 20 points and 19 points, respectively.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA: The Golden Gophers are coming off of a 60-44 win over Michigan State Monday night. With the game tied at 44-44, Minnesota finished the game on a 16-0 run to secure the win. Minnesota is now 15-6 overall and 7-3 in Big Ten play. Emily Fox leads the offensive charge for the Gophers, averaging 12.4 points and 4.1 assists per game. Ashley Ellis-Milan is second on the squad in scoring (11.9 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (8.1).
ALL-TIME VS. THE GOPHERS: The Lady Lions are 20-8 all-time against Minnesota, including a 12-1 record in home games. Despite success early against the Golden Gophers, the Lady Lions have lost six of their last eight against the team in maroon and gold. The Gophers posted a 69-55 win over PSU on New Year's Day this year. Last season, Minnesota posted a 67-50 win at "The Barn" and earned its first-ever win in Happy Valley with a 56-48 decision.
LAST TIME VS. MINN: The Penn State Lady Lions jumped out early, but Minnesota used a late first-half run to post a 69-55 victory over the Lady Lions on Jan. 1. Senior Mashea Williams and junior Tyra Grant led three Lady Lions in double figures with 12 points each. Williams had a career-high three blocked shots to go along with six rebounds and three steals, while Grant added five rebounds in the loss. Senior point guard Brianne O'Rourke accounted for 11 points, three assists and two steals against the Gophers.
TY TIES CAREER HIGH: Tyra Grant loves the trip to Iowa. On Sunday, the junior tied her career high with 33 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the triple overtime loss to the Hawkeyes. She also set the Carver Hawkeye Arena record for field goal attempts (30). Grant's effort ties her career mark that was at Carver Hawkeye Arena her freshman season. With her third career 30-point game, Grant becomes one of five players in school history to have three or more 30-point games in their career. Grant reached the 20-point plateau for the 11th time this season and the 22nd in her career. Her 10 20-point games this season are the most by a Lady Lion since Tanisha Wright had 13 games with 20 or more points.
O'ROURKE JOINS ELITE GROUP: With a season-high 20 points at Iowa on Feb. 1, senior point guard Brianne O'Rourke became the sixth player in school history to accumulate 1,000 points and 500 assists. The other Lady Lions to accomplish the feat are Suzie McConnell, Tina Nicholson, Helen Darling, Jess Strom and Nancy Kuhl. O'Rourke now has 1,014 points and 525 assists.
BRI IS GRAND: Senior guard Brianne O'Rourke became the 32nd player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark with a season-high 20 points against Iowa on Feb. 1. She is the second Lady Lion (Tyra Grant) to reach the milestone this season.
SEASON BESTS: Several Lady Lions reached season highs in the triple overtime loss at Iowa on Feb. 2. Seniors Brianne O'Rourke and Mashea Williams had season bests of 20 and 19 points, respectively, while sophomore post Janessa Wolff pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds.
TRIPLE THE OT: The Lady Lions and the Iowa Hawkeyes participated in the longest women's basketball game in Carver Hawkeye Arena history on Feb. 1 as Iowa downed Penn State, 97-89 in triple overtime. It was the first-ever triple OT game in Lady Lion basketball history. Penn State is now 15-14 all-time in overtime games after a 58-56 overtime win over Wisconsin on Jan. 22 and the loss to the Hawkeyes. This is the first time that Penn State has played multiple overtime games in a season since the 2006-07 campaign.
The Lady Lions hit the road to face Michigan (Mon, Feb. 9) and Wisconsin (Thurs., Feb. 12) before returning to the BJC for the Third Annual WBCA Pink Zone Day. Fans will receive a Pink Lady Lion Basketball hat at the gates, while supplies last, and there will be a special presentation to honor breast cancer survivors at halftime. 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 (formerly known as THINK PINK Day) will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m., as the Lady Lions take on Iowa in the Bryce Jordan Center. The game can be seen on www.bigtennetwork.com. The first two Pink Zone events have raised more than $50,000 for breast cancer awareness. This year's fundraising efforts will benefit the Penn State Hershey Breast Cancer Institute, the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. For more information on the Pink Zone at Penn State, visit the official Pink Zone website at www.gopsusports.com/pinkzone.