Dec. 27, 2010
Bucknell Game Notes (12/28/10)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions (10-3) complete their non-conference schedule when they host Bucknell (2-7) on Tuesday at 7 p.m., at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Lady Lions are vying for their 11th non-conference win, which would be the most victories in non-conference play since 1984-85. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
TELEVISION: The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network with Dan Kelly (play-by-play) and Patricia Babcock McGraw (analyst) describing play.
RADIO/GAMETRACKER: The game is on the Penn State Sports Network and on ESPN 1450 locally with Jerry Fisher and Brian Tripp calling the action. The audio feed and GameTracker links are available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
SCOUTING BUCKNELL: The Bison are 2-7 on the season. Shelby Romine leads Bucknell with a 15.7 scoring average. Joyce Novacek is third on the squad in scoring (7.3), but leads the team in rebounding at a 9.1 per game clip. Alyssa Dunn is second on the squad in scoring with a 7.7 per game mark.
ALL-TIME VS. THE BISON: The Lady Lions are a perfect 10-0 all-time against Bucknell, including a 77-62 win in Lewisburg last season. Penn State is 6-0 all-time in home games against the Bison with the last meeting coming in Dec. 2008, which was a 81-44 Lady Lion win. The teams have met each of the last three seasons. Penn State is 17-0 all-time against Patriot League schools, including a win over Army earlier this season.
LAST TIME VS. BU: The Lady Lions turned in a dominating performance in a 77-62 win over Bucknell on Nov. 19, 2009. Penn State landed four players in double figures, led by Zhaque Gray and Nikki Greene with 11 points apiece. Gray also chipped in three rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Greene had three rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Alex Bentley accounted for 10 tallies and four assists.
LAST TIME OUT: In a battle of the two top three-point shooting teams in the country, the fans at the Bryce Jordan Center saw exactly what they came for as the Lady Lions and Drexel combined for 19 makes from beyond the arc on Dec. 21. However, it was the Dragons that had the upper hand, shooting 50% (13-26) from three-point range en route to an 84-73 win over Penn State. Maggie Lucas continued her stellar play with her sixth 20-point game of the season. Alex Bentley scored 12 of her 14 points after halftime and dished out four assists.
OLD HIGH SCHOOL FOES MEET AGAIN: Senior Julia Trogele and Bucknell's Joyce Novacek will meet for the final time in their collegiate careers. The pair faced off in the 2006-07 PIAA State Championship game at the Bryce Jordan Center. Novack's Hopewell team posted a 37-36 victory over Trogele and Villa Maria Academy in the Class AAA final. However, Trogele has the edge in collegiate games with wins in each of their first three meetings.
TROGELE GETS TO 600: With a nine-point effort against Drexel on Dec. 21, Julia Trogele surpassed the 600-point plateau for her career. The senior guard/forward is the 48th player in school history to surpass the 600-point mark. She is currently tied with former associate head coach Annie Troyan for 47th place on Penn State's career scoring list with 602 tallies.
LADY LIONS IN THE RPI: The Lady Lions are in the Top 50 in most major RPI reports. Penn State is 32nd in the Jeff Sagarin/CBN Women's College Basketball Ratings as of Dec. 24. The Lady Lions are also 41st in the CollegeRPI.com rankings as of Dec. 24.
The Lady Lions open Big Ten play by hosting Iowa on Thurs., Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. Fans will receive Lady Lion New Year's hats and tiaras while supplies last. 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.