Sept. 2, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Former Penn State Lady Lion Tanisha Wright claimed WNBA All-Defensive first team accolades for the second consecutive season. The Seattle Storm starter joins Indiana Fever standout and 2010 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Tamika Catchings as the only other repeat honoree on the first team.
Joining Wright and Catchings on the WNBA All-Defensive first team are Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry, Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles and New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter. A panel of the WNBA's 12 head coaches voted on the WNBA All-Defensive Team, selecting first and second teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team.
In her sixth season with Seattle, Wright accounts for 9.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, a career-best 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. She ranks 10th in the WNBA in assists per game and eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.17). The three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has also been steady at the free throw line, ranking 13th in the WNBA with an 84.4% mark from the stripe.
Wright and the Seattle Storm begin their best of three Western Conference Final series against Phoenix tonight at 10 p.m. on NBA TV. The Storm posted a WNBA-best 28-6 overall record en route to claiming the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The Lady Lions, who will face Gannon in an exhibition on Sun., Nov. 7, open their season on the road at Dayton on Fri., Nov. 12. Penn State then faces Rider in its home opener on Sun., Nov. 14. 2010-11 Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are available by calling 814-867-2557. Season tickets are $117 for adults, $52 for youth and $91 for seniors. The PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 10 vouchers that can be redeemed for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets in any combination.
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