Jan. 28, 2011
Ohio State Game Notes (1/30/11)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Coming off of a thrilling victory at Illinois that vaulted them into a four-way tie for first place in the Big Ten standings, the Penn State Lady Lions (17-5, 6-2) return to the Bryce Jordan Center for a pivotal match-up against six-time defending Big Ten champion #23/24 Ohio State (13-7, 4-4) on Sunday at 2 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game and the first 1,500 fans will get a white Penn State Lady Lion Basketball t-shirt. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network with Tom Hart and Theresa Grentz describing play.
NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY: Sunday is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. As part of the celebration, there will be a pre-game all-sports clinic from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in South Gym for boys and girls, who will then get a free ticket to the game.
PROMOTIONS: The Subway Full Court 4-Pack is available for Sunday's game. Fans can get four tickets, four sodas and a voucher for four 6" Subway subs for $40. Additionally, Highmark members can show their ID in the ticket office to get a $5 ticket for the game. Piano juggler Dan Menendez will be performing at halftime
GIVEAWAY: The first 1,500 fans will receive a Penn State Lady Lion Basketball white out t-shirt.
TELEVISION: The game will air live on the Big Ten Network with Tom Hart and Theresa Grentz describing play.
RADIO: 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 is available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes are ranked 24th in the Associated Press poll and 23rd in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll with a 13-7 overall record and 4-4 mark in Big Ten play. Jantel Lavender is dominating the post again for the Buckeyes as she averages team bests of 22.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. She is also averaging 2.0 blocks per outing. Samantha Prahalis accounts for 14.2 points and 6.4 assists per game, while Tayler Hill chips in 12.2 tallies per game.
ALL-TIME VS. THE BUCKEYES: The Lady Lions are 30-19 all-time against Ohio State, but have lost the last 11 games to the Buckeyes, dating back to the 2005-06 season. Penn State is 15-6 all-time against Ohio State in home games, but has not topped the Buckeyes at the BJC since 12/30/05. Last season, OSU posted an 86-73 win at the Bryce Jordan Center in the only meeting of the year between the teams.
LAST TIME VS. OSU: The Lady Lions led by as 15 points and forced 25 turnovers, but a late 17-4 run by No. 8/9 Ohio State gave the Buckeyes an 86-73 win on Feb. 7, 2010. The Buckeyes were unstoppable from three-point range, knocking down a Big Ten record 17 threes and shooting 65.4% (17-26). Tyra Grant led four Lady Lions in double figures with 22 points to go along with four steals and two assists. Alex Bentley posted her second career 20-point game with 20 tallies on 10-of-13 shooting, including an 8-for-8 start from the field. She also dished out three assists and had two steals.
LAST TIME OUT: Senior guard/forward Julia Trogele's layup with 9.1 seconds remaining pushed the Lady Lions to a 67-65 win over Illinois in Champaign Thursday. Trogele and sophomore center Nikki Greene each recorded double-doubles as the Lady Lions found success in the paint. Trogele finished the game with 19 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and the eighth of her career. She ties her career high with 19 tallies, equaling the mark she set earlier this season against South Carolina. Greene garnered her fifth double-double of the season and sixth of her career with 16 points and a game-high 14 points.
17-WIN MARK: The Lady Lions equalled their win total from last year as they picked up their 17th victory of the season with a 67-65 win at Illinois on Jan. 27. The win also ensured the Lions would finish the season with a winning record for the second-straight season. With one more victory this year, Penn State will have its most wins since the winning 19 games during the 2004-05 campaign.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Sophomore center Nikki Greene and senior guard/forward Julia Trogele each recorded double-doubles in Penn State's 67-65 win at Illinois on Jan. 27. Greene's double-double was her fifth of the season and sixth of her career as she accounted for 16 points and 14 rebounds. Trogele registered her fourth double-double of the season and eighth of her career with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Her 19 points tie her career high, set against South Carolina earlier this season. Trogele also made the game-winning layup with 9.1 seconds left.
The Lady Lions hit the road for a pair of games at Michigan on Thursday, Feb. 3 and at Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 6. Penn State is back in the Bryce Jordan Center to meet Michigan State on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. PNC Bank customers can buy a ticket to the game for just $5. 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.