Dec. 10, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions (8-2) will play one final game before taking a break for final exams when they host Maine (1-6) on Sunday at noon at the Bryce Jordan Center. Sunday is the Lady Lions' annual Toys for Tots game where fans that donate a new, unwrapped toy to Toys for Tots will receive a free ticket to the game.
PROMOTIONS/GIVEAWAY: Fans that donate a new, unwrapped toy to Toys for Tots will receive a free ticket to the game. Additionally, fans will receive a "Lady Lion Basketball Game Today" sign while supplies last.
WEBSTREAM/TELEVISION: The game will be webstreamed live on www.bigtenetwork.com. The game will also be tape-delayed on the Big Ten Network as a "Student U" broadcast on Mon., Dec. 13 at 3:30 p.m.
RADIO/LIVE STATS: The game is on WRSC-1390 locally with Jerry Fisher calling the action. The audio feed and GameTracker are available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
SCOUTING MAINE: The Black Bears are 1-6 on the season heading into a game at Penn on Friday night. Samantha Wheeler leads Maine with a 12.8 scoring average and 7.6 rebounding mark. Amber Smith is also averaging double figures at 12.4 points per game. Katelyn Vanderhoff is third on the team in scoring (7.6) and has a team-best 23 assists in seven games.
ALL-TIME VS. THE BLACK BEARS: This will be the first-ever meeting between the Lady Lions and Maine. Penn State did travel to Maine for the Dead River Company Classic last season, but did not square off against the Black Bears. The Lady Lions are 6-1 all-time against America East teams, including a victory over Hartford in Mexico this season. PSU has also faced Boston University (3-1), New Hampshire (1-0) and Stony Brook (1-0).
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Lions turned in a dominating performance on the way to a 95-65 victory over Army Wednesday night. Redshirt sophomore Mia Nickson posted her second-straight 20-point game with 23 tallies to go along with five rebounds and two steals. All 10 players scored at least four points for the Lady Lions, who shot 49.3% (34-69) on the game and registered 15 steals on 20 turnovers. Nickson was 8-for-13 from the field and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. She also tied her career high with two assists. Freshman guard Maggie Lucas came off of the bench to register her fourth 20-point game of the year with 20 tallies, including a 10-for-10 effort from the free throw line. Lucas pulled in a career-high eight rebounds and tied her personal best with four steals.
LIONS HOST SPECIAL OLYMPICS CLINIC: The Lady Lions hosted their second annual basketball clinic for Special Olympic athletes, unified partners and coaches from Centre and Blair Countries on Dec. 11 at the Bryce Jordan Center. The participants were invited to watch the end of the Lady Lions' practice and will then participated in a clinic from 4-4:30 p.m., followed by a chance to have pizza with the Lady Lions. The Special Olympic athletes, unified partners and coaches participated in various drills and activities and coaches had an opportunity to learn additional coaching techniques. All Special Olympics PA athletes and their families, not just those participating in clinic, were invited to be a guest of Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington's for today's Penn State women's basketball game against Maine. The Centre County and Blair County basketball teams will square off in a halftime exhibition with Sue Paterno serving as the Master of Ceremonies for tipoff.
THREE POINT TURNAROUND: The Lady Lions are experiencing a renaissance from long range this season. Just 10 games in, Penn State has made 81 three-pointers with a .471 shooting percentage from deep. Here is a comparison of Penn State's three-point shooting over the last decade:
| Year | 3FGM | 3FGA | Pct. |
| 2010-11 | 81 | 172 | .471 |
| 2009-10 | 118 | 376 | .314 |
| 2008-09 | 124 | 403 | .308 |
| 2007-08 | 125 | 412 | .303 |
| 2006-07 | 115 | 344 | .334 |
| 2005-06 | 91 | 288 | .316 |
| 2004-05 | 132 | 395 | .334 |
| 2003-04 | 189 | 595 | .318 |
| 2002-03 | 228 | 660 | .345 |
| 2001-02 | 166 | 483 | .344 |
NICKSON'S KNACK: Redshirt sophomore guard Mia Nickson has found her scoring rhythm of late as she tallied her second-straight 20-point game with 23 tallies on 8-of-13 shooting in the win over Army Dec. 8. Nickson was also 7-for-7 from the free throw stripe and pulled in five rebounds. She also tied her career high with two assists against the Black Knights.
MULTIFACETED LUCAS: Freshman guard Maggie Lucas showed that she can do more than just shoot three-pointers. In the win over Army on Dec. 8, she was 10-for-10 from the free throw line en route to 20 points, her fourth 20-point game of the season. Additionally, Lucas pulled in a career-high eight rebounds and tied her personal mark with four steals.
ROCKIN' RENEE: Junior guard Renee Womack equaled season highs with six points and seven rebounds in the win over Army on Dec. 8. She also nabbed two steals in 21 minutes of action against the Black Knights.
The Lady Lions will break for a week for exams and will be back in action on Sun., Dec. 19 versus Delaware at the BJC. The first 200 fans will receive a Big Ten backpack. PSU continues its seven-game homestand on Tues., Dec. 21 versus Drexel as part of a men's and women's doubleheader, beginning at 5 p.m. 2010-11 Lady Lion Basketball Single-game tickets are available by calling 814-863-1000 or 800-NITTANY. The PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, including one for the Coaches vs. Cancer game and one for the Pink Zone game, that can be redeemed for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets in any combination.
The 2011 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State will take place on Sunday, Feb. 27 at noon as the Lady Lions take on Northwestern in the Bryce Jordan Center. The game can be seen on the Big Ten Network. Last year, the Lady Lions donated more than $80,000 for breast cancer causes. This year's fundraising efforts will benefit the Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital. For more information on the Pink Zone at Penn State, visit the official Pink Zone website at www.gopsusports.com/pinkzone. The WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pinkzoneatpennstate.
The Lady Lions are on Twitter. Follow sports information contact Kris Petersen (@ladylionsid) and the Lady Lions and coaches (@pennstatewbb) to get the inside scoop. The Lady Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstateladylions.