Nov. 27, 2011
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RENO, NEV. - The #17/16 Penn State Lady Lions (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) found their offensive prowess as they shot 57.3% (43-75) on the game en route to a 103-65 win over Nevada (2-3) to win the Nugget Classic in Reno. It is also the 28th regular-season tournament title for Penn State and the second this season (Lady Lion Classic). Junior Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) was selected as Tournament MVP and sophomore Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) was named to the All-Tournament team. The Lady Lions surpass the 100-point mark for the first time since a 113-104 overtime loss at Boston College on Dec. 2, 2010.
Three Lady Lions reached the 20-point plateau, led by Lucas with a season-best 26 points. She also pulled in seven rebounds, dished out a career-best five assists and a blocked shot. Bentley was 11-for-15 from the field en route to 23 points to go along with six assists and a career-best five steals. Senior Zhaque Gray (Chicago, Ill.) was the final 20-point performer for the Lady Lions with 21 tallies on 9-of-15 shooting. She also dished out three assists and pulled in four rebounds.
Nikki Greene (Diboll, Texas) accounted for 11 points and seven rebounds, while Talia East (Philadelphia, Pa.) notched a career-high eight points with six rebounds and a steal.
The game started with a quick pace and even matchup until Greene's layup off of a pass from Bentley to start a 7-2 run. Greene also capped the run with an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a 13-7 lead with 15:55 remaining in the half. The Wolf Pack would close within two (17-15) but the Lady Lions would score the next four points on a baby hook shot from East and a pull-up by Lucas to make it 21-15 with 13 minutes to play.
After a 4-0 Nevada spurt, Lucas connected on a jumper to begin a 7-2 run that also featured a three-point play by Gray and a pull-up jumper in transition by Lucas to make it 28-21 with 7:29 remaining. The squads exchanged scores for the next several possessions until the Wolf Pack scored four-straight points to close within two points (34-32) with just under four minutes left in the half.
Lucas connected on back-to-back three-pointers, including one off of a pass from Tori Waldner (Milton, Ga.), to kick-off a 15-2 run to close the half and send the Lady Lions into the break with a 49-34 lead. Bentley accounted for four points in the run, while Gray added a three-pointer and Gizelle Studevent (La Jolla, Calif.) added a pair.
Lucas led all scorers with 18 points via a 7-for-9 shooting performance. She also pulled in five rebounds, two assists and blocked a shot in the opening frame. Gray also reached double figures in the first half with 10 points, while Bentley added eight points and four assists. The Lady Lions shot 52.5% (21-40) from the field in the opening frame.
Penn State kept its momentum from the first half by scoring the first six points of the second half, including four tallies by Greene, to take a 55-34 lead just two minute in to the second half. Following a pair of free throws by Kayla Williams, the Lady Lions clicked off a 16-2 run to extend the lead to 71-38 with 12:25 on the clock. The Wolf Pack scored six of the game's next 10 points to close within 31 points and that was as close as Nevada would get.
GAME NOTES: The Lady Lions are now 1-0 against Nevada ... The tournament win is Penn State's 28th all-time regular-season tournament title and second this season (Lady Lion Classic) ... Alex Bentley was selected as the Tournament MVP and Maggie Lucas was named to the All-Tournament team ... Bentley nabbed a career-high five steals in the win ... Talia East had a personal-best eight points ... The Lady Lions reached the 100-point mark for the first time since a 113-104 overtime loss at Boston College on Dec. 2, 2010 ... Penn State scored 54 points in the second half, the most by a PSU team since they scored 55 in the second half at Boston College on Dec. 2, 2010 ... The Lady Lions had three 20-point scorers (Lucas, 26; Bentley, 23; Zhaque Gray, 21) for the first time since a win at Dayton on Nov. 12, 2010 (Bentley 26; Gray, 27; Nikki Greene, 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.
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