Dec. 31, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Fresh off an upset win over 13th-ranked Iowa, the Penn State Lady Lions (12-3, 1-0) hit the road for the first time in a month when they travel to Wisconsin (6-7, 1-0) for a Big Ten contests on Sunday at 2 p.m. (Eastern). The Lady Lions are 25-9 all-time against Wisconsin, but are just 8-7 in Madison. The game will be streamed live on www.bigtenetwork.com.
RADIO/LIVE STATS: The game is WRSC in the State College area with Jerry Fisher calling the action. The audio feed and GameTracker links are available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
WEBCAST: The game will be streamed live on www.bigtenetwork.com.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN: The Badgers are 6-7 overall, but posted a 68-66 road win over Purdue in their Big Ten opener. Alyssa Karel leads Wisconsin with 13.8 points and 2.6 assists per game. Lin Zastrow accounts for 11.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per outing, while Tara Steinbauer averages 10.7 points and 6.5 rebounds.
ALL-TIME VS. THE BADGERS: The Lady Lions are 25-9 all-time against Wisconsin, but are just 8-7 in Madison. The squads have split their meetings each of the last two seasons. Penn State snapped a three-game road losing streak to the Badgers with a 54-43 win on Jan. 21, 2010. Wisconsin has won four of the last six meetings between the teams.
LAST TIME VS. WISCONSIN: Wisconsin shot 75% in the first half and 57.7% (30-52) for the game on the way to a 71-39 victory over the Lady Lions on Feb. 25, 2010. Penn State was held to its fewest points since scoring 35 points in a 60-35 loss to Slippery Rock on March 11, 1976. Tyra Grant scored all 15 of her points in the second half to go along with three steals. Nikki Greene accounted for 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, seven rebounds and a blocked shot, while Emily Phillips tied her career high with nine points off of the bench.
BIG TEN ROAD OPENERS: The Lady Lions are 10-8 all-time in Big Ten road openers. Penn State has not won a Big Ten road opener since the 2004-05 campaign (at Iowa).
LAST TIME OUT: Junior guard Zhaque Gray hit a three-pointer to complete a late run in the second half as the Lady Lions rallied from a seven-point deficit with 6:33 remaining to upset No. 14/13 Iowa, 68-59, in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Penn State outscored the Hawkeyes, 20-4, in the final 6:30 to post their first win over a ranked team since defeating No. 20 Michigan State, 68-60, on Jan. 17, 2010. The Lady Lions claimed their first win in a Big Ten opener since the 2004-05 season. Sophomore guard Alex Bentley led the Lady Lions' offensive charge with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including three three-pointers. She also dished out three assists and pulled in two rebounds. Gray was 6-for-12 from the field en route to 14 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists.
RANKED WIN: The Lady Lions overcame a seven-point deficit with 6:33 left to upset #14/13 Iowa on Dec. 30. It was Penn State's first win over a ranked team since defeating No. 20 Michigan State, 68-60, on Jan. 17, 2010. The Lady Lions have won at least one game over a ranked team in 21 of the last 22 years, dating back to the 1989-90 season.
BIG TEN OPENER SKID SNAPPED: With a 68-59 win over Iowa on Dec. 30, the Lady Lions snapped a five-game losing streak in Big Ten openers. The win was the first in a Big Ten opener since the 2004-05 season for the Lady Lions.
GREENE CLOSING IN ON BLOCKS TOP 10: Sophomore center Nikki Greene is closing in on the Top 10 on Penn State's career blocked shots list. With five rejections against Iowa on Dec. 30, Greene moved into 12th play with 84 career blocks. She needs three rejections to move into a tie for 10th place with Reicina Russell and Vicki Link. Greene's five blocks against the Hawkeyes were also the most by a Penn State player since she tossed seven shots aside against Purdue on Jan. 28, 2010.
The Lady Lions continue their road trip at Northwestern on Thurs., Jan. 6, a game that will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Penn State returns to the Bryce Jordan Center for their only meeting of the season against Minnesota on Thurs., Jan. 13. 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.