Dec. 20, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Penn State Lady Lion guard Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) continued her string of winning the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award with her fifth consecutive honor. Lucas shares this week's award with Purdue's Courtney Moses. With the honor, Lucas breaks the conference record for Freshman of the Week accolades in a season, passing the mark of four freshman laurels set by Iowa's Jaime Printy and Illinois' Karisma Penn each claimed four awards last year. The Freshman of the Week award was introduced during the 2009-10 season.
Lucas collects her fifth straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week award after guiding Penn State to a 64-55 win over Delaware on Sunday. The newcomer scored a team-high 16 points, 10 of which came after halftime, along with four rebounds and two steals as Penn State won its 10th game of the season. She also nailed four three-pointers, two of which came in the final 4:09 just as the Blue Hens had cut the Penn State lead to two.
The freshman guard leads the team and is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring at a 16.9 per game rate. Lucas is also seventh in three-point field goal percentage (.448) and first in three-pointers made (3.3). Additionally, she is second in the Big Ten and eighth in NCAA Division I in free throw percentage with a 93.8% (30-32) from the charity stripe. Lucas currently is tied for fourth on Penn State's freshman three-pointers list with 39 treys. She needs three triples to move into a tie for third place with Jess Strom (42; 2001-02).
The Lady Lions are back in action at the Bryce Jordan Center on Tues., Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m., against Drexel. The game is part of a men's and women's doubleheader with the Nittany Lions taking on Maine at 5 p.m. Following a break for the holidays, the Lady Lions will face Bucknell at the BJC on Tues., Dec. 28 at 7 p.m., before hosting Iowa on Thurs., Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. in their Big Ten opener. 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.