Jan. 25, 2010
The Penn State Lady Lions (15-4, 7-2) moved into the 23rd spot in this week's Associated Press Top 25 thanks in part to their current six-game winning streak. This is the first national ranking for the Lady Lions since finishing the 2004-05 season ranked No. 22. Penn State is one of two Big Ten teams in the Top 25, joining fourth-ranked Ohio State.
Penn State is in second place in the Big Ten with a 15-4 overall record and a 7-2 mark in conference play. The Lady Lions have won six consecutive games and 10 of their last 11 heading into Thursday's home game against Purdue. Penn State has already surpassed their win total from a year ago and has tallied its most Big Ten wins since the 2006-07 campaign.
Senior Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) has been a driving force for the Lady Lions, ranking second in the Big Ten and in the Top 20 in the NCAA with a 19.2 scoring average. She also accounts for 4.7 rebounds and a team-best 1.6 steals per game. Freshmen Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Nikki Greene (Diboll, Texas) have been solid contributors for Penn State this season. Bentley is second on the team and 18th in the Big Ten in scoring (10.9). She also leads the squad and is sixth in the conference with a 3.8 assist average. Greene has emerged as a force down low, averaging 7.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. With 33 blocks this season, Greene is third on Penn State's freshman season blocks list.
The Lady Lions continue their homestand against Purdue on Thursday at 7 p.m., before traveling to Michigan (Jan. 30) and Michigan State (Feb. 4). 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 took place on Sunday, Jan. 24 when the Lady Lions take on Illinois in the Bryce Jordan Center. The first three Pink Zone events have raised more than $80,000 for breast cancer awareness. This year's fundraising efforts will benefit Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. For more information or to donate online to the Pink Zone at Penn State, visit the official Pink Zone website at www.gopsusports.com/pinkzone.
The Lady Lions hold several camps throughout the summer. There is a Lady Lion Basketball Camp available for girls of all ages, ranging from shooting camp to elite camp. The 2010 Lady Lion Basketball Camp schedule is as follows: Shooting Camp (June 13-15), Elite Camp (June 20-22), Skills Camp (June 20-23), Total Package Team Camp (June 24-26) and Games Galore Team Camp (August 6-8). For more information on Lady Lion Basketball Camps, please visit psusportscamps.com and click on Lady Lion Basketball Camp.
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.