Dec. 5, 2011
Virginia Tech Game Notes (12/6/11)
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The #17/15 Penn State Lady Lions (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten) open a three-game homestand Tuesday night when they face Virginia Tech (2-5, 0-0 ACC) at 7 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center. It is the Lady Lions' annual Toys for Tots game in which fans that bring a new, unwrapped toy to the game will get a voucher to participate in a postgame autograph session with four Lady Lions. Tuesday is also Dollar Dog Night at all concession stands.
PROMOTIONS: It's Toys for Tots night at the BJC and fans that bring a new, unwrapped toy to the game will get a voucher to participate in a postgame autograph session with four Lady Lions. Tuesday's game is also a Dollar Dog Night.
RADIO/LIVE STATS: The game is on the Penn State Sports Network and ESPN 1450 locally with Jerry Fisher and Brian Tripp calling the action. The audio feed and live stats are available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
TELEVISION: The game will be tape-delayed as a "Student U" broadcast on the Big Ten Network on Wed., Dec. 7 at 3:30 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Lions struggled from the field in the second half, shooting just 25% (8-32), as #19/25 Texas Tech used the energy from the 8,923 fans in attendance to claim a 70-66 win over the Lady Lions Saturday. The Lady Lions closed within one point late, but a three-pointer by Jordan Barncastle as the shot clock expired sealed the four-point win for the Lady Raiders. Alex Bentley had a game-high 18 points to go along with two rebounds, three assists and a steal, while sophomore guard Maggie Lucas added 15 points and three steals. Junior center Nikki Greene, playing in her home state of Texas for the first time, staved off foul trouble to register 11 points and eight rebounds.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH: The Hokies are 2-5 on the season with wins over Old Dominion and George Washington on the season. Monet Tellier leads three Hokies averaging double figures with an 18.9 scoring average. She also averages 5.1 rebounds per outing. Aerial Wilson accounts for 12.1 points and a team-best 4.6 assists per game, while Alyssa Fenyn averages 10.1 points and 5.9 rebounds.
ALL-TIME VS. THE HOKIES: The Lady Lions claimed the win in the only previous meetings between the schools with a 61-48 decision in the 2004 NCAA Tournament in Blacksburg. The Hokies have never played in State College. Penn State is 34-25 all-time against ACC opponents.
LAST TIME VS. VT: The Lady Lions earned a 61-48 win over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Tanisha Wright was 12-for-18 from the field and finished with a game-high 28 points and a pair of steals. Jess Strom added 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the win. The Hokies held PSU's all-time leading scorer, Kelly Mazzante, to just nine points.
THE NICKSON FACTOR: Both the of Lady Lions' losses this season have come without junior forward Mia Nickson in the lineup. In the four games that PSU has played without Nickson, Penn State has been outrebounded in all four contests and has a -5.7 rebounding margin in those games (38.2-44.0). The Lions have split their four games without Nickson.
BENTLEY CLOSING IN ON 1,000: Junior guard Alex Bentley needs five points to become the 33rd player in school history with 1,000 points. She will be the 15th junior to reach the milestone and first Lady Lion to accomplish the feat since Tyra Grant reached the 1,000-point plateau in 2008.
The Lady Lions continue their homestand with their first-ever meeting with UMES on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game is a Subway Full Court 4-Pack, fans get four reserved game tickets, one voucher good for four 6-inch subs at any of seven State College Subway locations, and one voucher good for four soft drinks at the BJC, for just $40. 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.