Nov. 6, 2009
The Penn State Lady Lion basketball team will take the floor for the first time this season when they face IUP in an exhibition game on Sunday at 2 p.m., at the Bryce Jordan Center. Tickets to the game are a $5 general admission ticket for adults and free for students.
SCOUTING IUP: The Crimson Hawks tied the school record for wins last season with a 26-6 mark. Junior Lacey Claar is the top returning scorer for IUP after finishing second on the squad with a 9.5 scoring average. Junior Eryn Withers, who contributed 5.7 points per game a year ago, also returns for the Hawks.
ALL-TIME VS. THE HAWKS: The Lady Lions are 2-0 all-time against IUP, but the two squads have not squared off in the regular season since the 1977 campaign. The last time the teams met, Penn State posted an 88-41 win over the Crimson Hawks.
TYRA IS PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN PICK: Senior Tyra Grant was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team. Joining Grant on the five-player Preseason All-Big Ten team are Preseason Player of the Year Jantel Lavender of Ohio State, Illinois' Jenna Smith, Michigan State's Allyssa DeHaan and OSU's Samantha Prahalis.
BABY BOOM: It was a busy off season for the Lady Lion coaching staff as head coach Coquese Washington and assistant coach Itoro Coleman each added to their families. Washington gave birth to daughter, Rhaiyna, on July 23, while Coleman welcomed daughter, Jordyn, on October 10. Washington also has a son, Quenton (4), and Coleman has another daughter, Jada (5).
GRANT ON WOODEN WATCH LIST: Senior guard Tyra Grant, a first team All-Big Ten selection last season, is among the preseason candidates for the 2009-10 Women's John R. Wooden Award. The list is comprised of 31 student athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the frontrunners for college basketball's most prestigious honor. Grant was a semifinalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award a year ago.
QUINN TO MISS SEASON: Senior guard Meggan Quinn will sit out the 2009-10 season due to knee injuries suffered throughout her collegiate career. The native of Red Lion, Pa., will serve as a team captain for her final season at Penn State. Quinn, who has suffered ACL injuries to both knees while at Penn State, averaged a career-best 2.8 points per game a year ago and tallied a career-high five steals and two blocks. For her career, Quinn averaged 2.1 points per game. The two-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient is majoring in crime, law and justice and plans to pursue a career in law enforcement.
MAZZANTE WINS SECOND WNBA TITLE: Former Lady Lion legend Kelly Mazzante won her second WNBA Championship this season as the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever, 3-2, in the WNBA Finals. Mazzante was also a member of the Mercury's 2007 championship squad.
TEAM CAPTAINS: The Lady Lions will have three team captains this season in seniors Nicole Arcidiacono, Meredith Monroe and Meggan Quinn.
DEEP ROSTER: The Lady Lions tout a 14-player roster this season. It is the biggest roster for a Penn State team since the 1996-97 team also carried 14 players.
OFFICIAL PINK ZONE T-SHIRT: The Official 2010 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State t-shirt is available at all Penn State Bookstore locations and on www.goPSUsports.com. The shirts are $10 with $5 of every shirt going to the Pink Zone fundraising efforts.
The Lady Lions open the regular season at Drexel on Friday before returning home to face NJIT on Sunday at 2 p.m. Penn State fans that attend the Indiana football game can use their football ticket to receive buy one ticket, get one free ticket for the game against the Highlanders. Single game tickets can be purchased by calling the Penn State ticket office at 814-865-5555.
The 2010 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State will take place on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m., as the Lady Lions take on Illinois in the Bryce Jordan Center. The game can be seen on www.bigtennetwork.com. The first three Pink Zone events have raised more than $80,000 for breast cancer awareness. This year's fundraising efforts will benefit the Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, 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.
The Lady Lions are on Twitter. Follow head coach Coquese Washington (@psucoachquese), sports information contact Kris Petersen (@ladylionsid) and the Lady Lions and assistant coaches (@pennstatewbb) to get the inside scoop. The Lady Lions are also on Facebook. Search Lady Lion Basketball and become a fan.