Nov. 23, 2011
Nugget Classic Game Notes (11/25-26/11)
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The #17/16 Penn State Lady Lions (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten) travel to the state of Nevada for the first time since the 1994-95 season to participate in the John Q. Ascuaga Nugget Classic at the University of Nevada. The Lady Lions will meet Iowa State in the opening round of the tournament Friday at 7 p.m. (Eastern), while the host Wolfpack will take on Butler in the other contest. The consolation/championship games will take place on Saturday at 8/10 p.m. (Eastern).
RADIO/LIVE STATS: The game is on the Penn State Sports Network, including ESPN 1450 locally, with Jerry Fisher calling the action. The audio feed and live stats are available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
SCOUTING IOWA STATE: The Cyclones are 3-0 on the season with wins over Houston Baptist, Drake and Northern Arizona. Chelsea Poppens leads Iowa State attack, averaging a double-double with 14.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Hallie Christofferson is also accounting for 13.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per outing, while Nikki Moody accounts for 10.0 tallies per game. The Cyclones are outscoring their opponents by 23.7 points per game this season.
ALL-TIME VS. THE CYCLONES: The Lady Lions were victorious in the only previous meeting with Iowa State, earning a 66-65 win in the 2000 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional semifinal. The game was played in Kansas City, Mo. and was part of Penn State's Final Four run.
LAST TIME VS. ISU: Helen Darling posted a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Lady Lions claimed a 66-65 win in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional semifinals on March 25, 2000. Current Penn State assistant coach Maren Walseth added 14 points and five rebounds in the win.
USA BASKETBALL TRIALS REVISITED: Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly was the head coach of the World University Games squad that Alex Bentley and Maggie Lucas tried out for last spring. Fennelly coached alongside former Lady Lions Suzie McConnell Serio and Terri Williams-Flounoy in the international tournament.
TOURNEY HISTORY: The Lady Lions are 125-49 in regular-season tournament play with 27 titles. The Lady Lions have won a trio of tourney crowns under Coquese Washington in the season-opening Lady Lion Classic, the WBCA Classic and the Dead River Company Classic.
RETURN TO SILVER STATE: The Lady Lions are playing in the state of Nevada for the first time since the 1994-95 season when they played in teh Showboat Shootout in Las Vegas. This is PSU's visit to Reno. If the Lady Lions face Nevada, it will be the first meeting between the schools and just the second time PSU will play a school from the state of Nevada (PSU 71, UNLV 67; Jan. 5, 1985).
LATE RALLIES: The Lady Lions have used late runs to claim each of their three wins this season. Penn State needed a 13-0 run against South Carolina (Nov. 20), a 19-0 run against Middle Tennessee (Nov. 13) and a 13-0 spurt versus Washington State (Nov. 11). In the final five minutes of their three wins, the Lady Lions are outscoring their opponents an average of 10-0 and holding them to an 0-for-26 effort from the field. LATE RALLIES
| Team | Run | Length | Deficit |
| Washington State | 13-0 | 6:53 | 1 |
| Middle Tennessee | 19-0 | 6:45 | 3 |
| South Carolina | 13-0 | 5:22 | 8 |
A BLOCK EAST: Sophomore center Talia East rejected seven shots in the win at South Carolina Nov. 20. The seven blocks are tied for third on Penn State's single-game charts and are the most since Nikki Greene blocked seven shots against Purdue on Jan. 28, 2010. Additionally, East hauled in 15 rebounds against the Gamecocks, the most rebounds for a Penn State player since Mia Nickson had 15 caroms at Iowa on Feb. 6, 2011.
THREES STRING STOPPED: The Lady Lions were held without a three-pointer for the first time under Coquese Washington at South Carolina Nov. 20. The last time Penn State did not connect from downtown was Jan. 7, 2007 at Michigan, a string of 143 games.
WOLFE RETURNS: After missing the first three games of the season due to concussion-like symptoms, junior post player Marisa Wolfe returned to go 2-for-3 from the field and tally four points in the win at South Carolina Nov. 20.
The Lady Lions return to the Bryce Jordan Center for the first time in 17 days when they face #16 North Carolina in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Penn State is 2-2 all-time against the Tarheels, including a 3-1 record at home. The last meeting between the teams saw PSU upset the #2 Tarheels, 77-71, in December 2004. Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are available by calling 814-867-2557. Season tickets are $117 for adults, $52 for youth and $91 for seniors. Single game tickets go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 11. 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 2012 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State will take place on Sunday, Feb. 26 as the Lady Lions take on Minnesota in the Bryce Jordan Center. Last year, the Lady Lions donated nearly $200,000 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, J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital and Lewistown 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.