Jan. 11, 2011
Minnesota Game Notes (1/13/11)
WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State Facebook Page
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - After coming off of a pair of road games and a bye date, the Penn State Lady Lions (13-4, 2-1) return to the Bryce Jordan Center for the first time in two weeks when they take on Minnesota (8-9, 0-4) on Thursday at 7 p.m. Thursday is Facebook "Like It" Day where fans who "like" the official WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State Facebook page can print off a ticket voucher for one FREE ticket to the Minnesota game. It will also be Dollar Dog Night at the Bryce Jordan Center where fans can buy a Berks Hot Dog for just $1 at concession stands.
PROMOTIONS: Thursday is Facebook "Like It" Day where fans who "like" the official WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State Facebook page can print off a ticket voucher for one FREE ticket to the Minnesota game. It will also be Dollar Dog Night at the Bryce Jordan Center where fans can buy a Berks Hot Dog for just $1 at concession stands.
TELEVISION: The game will re-air on the Big Ten Network as a "Student U" broadcast on Fri., Jan. 14 at 5 p.m.
WEB/RADIO/GAMETRACKER: The game is available via webcast on BigTenNetwork.com. The game is also on the Penn State Sports Network and on ESPN 1450 locally with Jerry Fisher and Brian Tripp calling the action. The audio feed and a link to GameTracker are available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA: The Golden Gophers are 8-9 overall and 0-4 in Big Ten play after a 47-42 loss to Wisconsin. Leah Cotton and Kiara Buford lead the team with 14.8 scoring averages. Cotton shoots 48.4% from the field, while Buford accounts for 3.3 assists per game. Jackie Voigt pulls in a team-best 6.6 rebounds per game to go along with 6.8 points per outing.
ALL-TIME VS. THE GOLDEN GOPHERS: The Lady Lions are 21-11 all-time against the Golden Gophers, including a 12-3 record in Happy Valley. Penn State posted a 63-52 win over Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in March to snap a six-game losing streak to the Golden Gophers. Penn State has lost eight of the last 10 games against the Gophers and haven't won at home against Minnesota since Feb. 15, 2007.
LAST TIME VS. MINNESOTA: The sixth-seeded Lady Lions found their defensive and transition games on the way to a 63-52 victory over No. 11 seed Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 4, 2010. After being shutout in the first half, Tyra Grant and Nikki Greene combined for 27 points in the second frame with 15 and 12 tallies, respectively. Grant also added four rebounds, two blocks and a pair of steals. Greene, who tied her career scoring high for the seventh time this season, accounted for six rebounds and three rejections.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Lions shot a sizzling 63.6% (7-11) from three-point range on the way to a 80-68 win at Northwestern on Jan. 6. Sophomore guard Alex Bentley and freshman guard Maggie Lucas both reached the 20-point mark for the night with 24 and 20 tallies, respectively. Bentley sealed the win with nine free throws in the final 1:39 en route to 24 markers. She also dished out six assists and notched four steals in the win. Lucas was a sizzling 5-for-6 from three-point range and 5-for-6 from the free throw line and finished with 20 tallies. Chicago native Zhaque Gray accounted for 12 points and two assists, while sophomore center Nikki Greene had a solid performance with 10 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and three steals.
WOLFE WILD VS. CATS: Sophomore forward Marisa Wolfe returned to the court against Northwestern on Jan. 6 after missing three games due to injury. She was 3-for-4 en route to six points, pulled in three rebounds and nabbed a steal. Additionally, Wolfe tied her career high with two blocked shots.
LUCAS LOOKING TO MOVE INTO SEASON THREES LIST: Freshman guard Maggie Lucas is closing in on Penn State's season three-pointers Top 10 list. In 17 games, Lucas as 55 three-pointers, which is tied for 12th on the PSU charts. She needs two triples to tie Tina Nicholson (57; 1995-96) for 10th place on the list. Additionally, Lucas is 20th on the Lady Lions' career three-pointers chart.
GREENE MOVES UP BLOCKS TOP 10: With two blocked shots against Northwestern on Jan. 6, sophomore center Nikki Greene moved past Kathy Phillips for ninth place with 90 career rejections. She needs two blocks to tie Bethany Collins for eighth place on the chart.
LUCAS CLIMBS FRESHMAN THREE-POINT CHART: Just 10 games into her freshman season, Maggie Lucas moved into the Top 5 on Penn State's freshman season three-pointers list. With five treys against Northwestern on Jan. 6, she moved past Lisa Shepherd for second place on the rookie chart. With 55 three-pointers this year, Lucas is 10 treys away from tying Kelly Mazzante for the freshman season three-pointers record.
LUCAS FOR 20 TALLIES: Freshman guard Maggie Lucas reached the 20-point plateau for the eighth time in her young career with 20 tallies at Northwestern on Jan. 6. Lucas is the first Penn State freshman with eight 20-point games since Kelly Mazzante, who holds the Penn State freshman season scoring record (529 pts.), had 10 20-point efforts in her rookie season.
LEADING THE NATION FROM DEEP: The Lady Lions lead the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage with a 44.3% mark. As a team, Penn State is 31st in three-pointers made per game (7.4). Additionally, Zhaque Gray is 12th in the nation in three-point shooter with a .459 mark, while Maggie Lucas is seventh in three-pointers per game (3.2) at a .437 effort.
The Lady Lions wrap up a two-game homestand against Illinois on Sunday on a game that will be televised on ESPN2. Sunday is SAAB THON Day where all $5 from student tickets will go to 2011 THON. Additionally, fans will receive a "We Are Penn State" t-shirt 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.