Jan. 2, 2012
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MADISON, WIS. - Coming off of a season-low shooting percentage, the #22/17 Penn State Lady Lions (11-3, 1-1 Big Ten) rebounded to connect on 52/3% (34-65) of its shots on the way to an 82-49 win at Wisconsin (4-10, 0-2) Monday afternoon. The Lady Lions moved the ball well with 26 assists on 34 baskets. Sophomore Maggie Lucas (Naberth, Pa.) accounted for a game-high 18 points with a career-best seven assists and a steal to pace Penn State.
Junior post player Mia Nickson (Ashburn, Va.) posted her first double-double of the season and seventh of her career with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a season-high 14 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass. Junior Nikki Greene (Diboll, Texas) also reached double figures with 14 points and seven rebounds. With two blocks on the game, Greene became the sixth player in school history with 150 blocks. Junior Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) chipped in eight points, eight assists and four steals, while senior Zhaque Gray (Chicago, Ill.) added eight tallies.
With Wisconsin leading 5-4, Bentley kicked off an 8-0 Penn State run with a jumper just inside the three-point line. Talia East (Philadelphia, Pa.) capped the run with a layup off of a great pass from Lucas to make it 13-4 with 14:37 left in the half. However, the Badgers responded with an 11-0 run to establish a 15-13 lead just over two minutes later.
Lucas' first three-pointer of the game jump-started the Penn State offense and led to a 14-0 run and a 27-15 Lady Lion lead with eight minutes remaining. Greene accounted for seven points during the run, including an old-fashioned three-point play. Following a 5-0 spurt by the Badgers, the Lady Lions closed the half on a 13-5 run to take a 40-25 lead at the break.
Lucas led all scorers with 10 first-half points to go along with four assists and two rebounds. Bentley added six points, six assists and two steals, while Greene chipped in seven points and five rebounds in the opening frame. The Lady Lions connected on 48.3% of their shots from the field in the first half.
The Badgers scored the first four points of the second half, but Penn State responded with a 9-0 spurt that featured four points from Nickson, a three-point play by Greene and a bucket by Bentley to establish a 20-point lead (49-29) with less than 16 minutes left. Wisconsin scored four of the next six points to pull within 18, but the Lady Lions clicked off a 9-0 run to push the lead to 27 (60-27) with just over 12 minutes on the clock. The Lady Lions continued to keep up the intensity and the Badgers would not get closer than 25 points in the final 12 minutes.
GAME NOTES: Junior Nikki Greene became the sixth player in school history with 150 career blocks (150) ... Junior Alex Bentley (380) moved into 11th place on Penn State's career assists list, passing Corinne Gulas (379) ... Sophomore Maggie Lucas dished out a career-high seven assists, surpassing her previous mark of five, accomplished twice earlier this season ... Junior Mia Nickson posted her first double-double of the season and seventh of her career with 10 points and 14 rebounds ... All 10 Lady Lions scored for the seventh time this season, but it is the first time that 10 players have accomplished the feat (all other times were with nine player) ... Greene tied her season high with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting ... Freshman Tori Waldner tied her career high with six points, equaling the mark she set against North Carolina.
The Lady Lions return home to meet Michigan State on Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. in a CBS game. The game is a Subway Full Court 4-Pack where fans can get four tickets, a voucher for four Subway subs and four sodas for $40. Also, Penn State Alumni Association members can get tickets for $5. Lady Lion Basketball single-game tickets are available by calling 800-NITTANY. 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.