Feb. 1, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions (18-5, 7-2) will hit the road for four of their five games beginning Thursday at Michigan (13-8, 6-3) at 7 p.m. The Lady Lions, who are currently tied with Wisconsin for first place in the Big Ten, have already surpassed their win total from last season and are looking to equal their conference win mark from a year ago. The game will be available as a webcast on www.BigTenNetwork.com.
WEB/TELEVISION: The game will be available as a webcast on www.BigTenNetwork.com. The game also will be tape-delayed on the Big Ten Network as "Student U" broadcast on Fri., Feb. 4 at 5 p.m.
RADIO/GAMETRACKER: The game is on the Penn State Sports Network and on ESPN 1450 locally with Jerry Fisher calling the action. The audio feed and a link to GameTracker are available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN: The Wolverines are 13-8 overall and 6-3 in Big Ten play after winning four of their last five games. Veronica Hicks has been an all-around contributor for Michigan, averaging team-bests of 11.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She also had 60 assists and 33 steals on the season. Carmen Reynolds is also contributing double-digits for the Wolverines at a 10.7 clip. Michigan is very balanced in the scoring column with eight players averaging 6.3 points or better on the year.
ALL-TIME VS. THE WOLVERINES: The Lady Lions are 25-9 all-time against the Wolverines, including an 11-5 mark in road games. However, Penn State has lost three of the last four games in Ann Arbor. The teams split the season series last year with each squad protecting their home court. Michigan topped PSU in Ann Arbor, 66-62, on Jan. 31, 2010, but the Lions got revenge with a 71-65 overtime win at the BJC on Feb. 18, 2010.
LAST TIME VS. UM: Despite losing a late lead, the Lady Lions came out strong in overtime, scoring the first eight points of the extra frame, on the way to a 71-65 win over Michigan on Jan. 18. The Lions used solid defense, holding Michigan to 28.4% from the field and forcing 18 turnovers to snap their six-game losing streak. Tyra Grant just missed out on her second career double-double with 25 points and nine rebounds. Marisa Wolfe had a career night with personal bests of 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and six rebounds to go along with a blocked shot.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Lions used a balanced offensive attack that saw five players reach double figures as Penn State upset #23/24 Ohio State, 80-71, in front of a season-best crowd of 6,618 at the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday. Sophomore guard Alex Bentley led the Penn State attack with 21 points and seven assists. The win snaps Penn State's 11-game losing streak against the Buckeyes and is the first over Ohio State since Dec. 30, 2005. Freshman guard Maggie Lucas was 6-for-8 from three-point range en route to 18 points, three rebounds and an assist. Sophomore center Nikki Greene posted her second-straight double-double and sixth of the season with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.
200TH BIG TEN WIN: Penn State picked up its 200th Big Ten win with an 80-71 win over #23/24 Ohio State on Jan. 30. The Lady Lions are the eighth team to get to the 200-win plateau in conference play. Penn State got to 200 wins in 307 games, making them the third-fastest team to reach the milestone, behind Ohio State (295) and Iowa (298).
80 TRIPLES: Freshman guard Maggie Lucas nailed her 80th three-pointer of the season in the win over Ohio State on Jan. 30. She becomes just the second player in school history to connect on 80 treys in a single season, joining Kelly Mazzante, who accomplished the feat three times (2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04).
GREENE DOUBLES UP: Sophomore center Nikki Greene posted her second-straight double-double and her sixth of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds against #23/24 Ohio State on Jan. 30. Greene's six double-doubles are the most by a Penn State player since Kam Gissendanner had six during the 2007-08 campaign.
BENTLEY GETS #700: With 21 points in the upset win over #23/24 Ohio State on Jan. 30, sophomore guard Alex Bentley surpassed the 700-point mark for her career. She is the 46th player in school history to reach the milestone.
SECOND RANKED WIN: With an 80-71 win over #23/24 Ohio State on Jan. 30, the Lady Lions picked up their second victory over a ranked team this season. Earlier in the year, Penn State topped 14/13 Iowa, 68-59. The Lady Lions have had two or more wins over ranked teams in three of the last four seasons.
18-WIN MARK: The Lady Lions surpassed their win total from last year as they picked up their 18th victory of the season with an 80-71 win over #23/24 Ohio State on Jan. 30. Penn State has its most wins since winning 19 games during the 2004-05 campaign. The Lions are ensured to finish the season with a winning record for the second-straight season.
HOME WINS: The Lady Lions picked up their 12th home win of the season with an 80-71 decision over #23/24 Ohio State on Jan. 30. With the 12 home wins, the Lady Lions have their most home wins since the 2006-07 season (12 wins).
The Lady Lions continued their road swing 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.