Feb. 8, 2011
Charity Buzz Pink Zone Online Auction
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lion (20-5, 9-2) have found their way back into both women's college basketball polls, landing in the 23rd position in the Associated Press poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll this week. The Lady Lions return to the Associated Press poll since climbing to #23 on Jan. 25, 2010 and are making their first appearance in the coaches poll since the March 14, 2005 poll that placed them 25th.
The Lady Lions are currently in sole possession of first place with a 20-5 overall record and 9-2 mark in conference play. Penn State has won five-straight games and eight of their last nine to move a half game ahead of #11/13 Michigan State in the Big Ten standings, setting up a first place battle at the Bryce Jordan Center Thursday at 7 p.m. The first 500 Penn State students to the game on Thursday will get a free ticket and will receive a Code Blue t-shirt.
The Lady Lions will be part of a Top 25 bout for the first time since the 2005 Big Ten Tournament Thursday. The last time PSU was part of a game that featured two Top 25 teams was when #7 Michigan State defeated #22 Penn State in the 2005 Big Ten Tournament, 83-76. The last time that the BJC hosted a Top 25 contest was when the 22nd-ranked Lions upset #10 Minnesota Jan. 30, 2005, 81-68.
With Sunday's win over #20/22 Iowa, the Lady Lions reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2003-04 and the 23rd time overall. The victory also marked the 800th win in program history, making Penn State one of 13 teams in NCAA Division I history to accomplish the feat.
Leading the way for Penn State is freshman guard Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.), who has claimed seven Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. She averages a team-best 16.7 points per game and is second in the Big Ten with a 46% three-point field goal percentage. Sophomore guard Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) accounts for 15.2 points and 5.4 assists, which is second in the Big Ten, per outing. Junior Zhaque Gray (Chicago, Ill.) (10.3 ppg) and sophomore Mia Nickson (Lansdale, Pa.) (10.0 ppg) are also averaging double figures for Penn State.
Penn State is back in the Bryce Jordan Center to meet #11 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.