Jan. 27, 2012
Michigan State Game Notes (1/29/12)
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The No. 18/19 Penn State Lady Lions (16-4, 6-2) conclude their time in the state of Michigan when they travel to East Lansing to face the Spartans (12-9, 4-4) Sunday at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 with Brenda VanLengen and Kayte Christiansen calling the action. The game will also be available on ESPN3.com.
TELEVISION: The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 with Brenda VanLengen and Kayte Christiansen calling the action.
WEBCAST: The game will stream live on ESPN3.com.
RADIO/LIVE STATS: The game is on the Penn State Sports Network and ESPN Radio 1450 locally with Jerry Fisher and Brian Tripp calling the action. The audio feed is available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Lions shot 56.1% from the field, including 66.7% in the second half, on the way to a dominating 77-56 win at Michigan Thursday. Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas posted her 11th 20-point game of the season with 23 tallies via a 10-for-13 effort from the field. She also pulled in eight rebounds with four assists and two steals. Junior Alex Bentley had a solid all-around game with 18 points, eight assists, four rebounds and a steal.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans are 12-9 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten play, but have lost four consecutive games. Porsche Poole leads a balanced offensive attack with an 11.5 scoring average. She is coming off of a career-high 28 points in the overtime loss to Illinois Thursday. Lykendra Johnson is nearly averaging a double-double at 9.8 points and 8.7 rebounds. She also paces the team in steals (44) and blocks (26).
ALL-TIME VS. THE SPARTANS: The Lady Lions are 24-11 all-time against Michigan State, but are just 8-7 in games played in East Lansing. Penn State has lost three straight and five of its last six games to the Spartans. Additionally, the Lady Lions have lost four of the last five contests played at the Breslin Center. Penn State dropped a 75-65 decision to the Spartans in early January despite 33 points from Maggie Lucas.
LAST TIME VS. MSU: Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas scored 28 of her career-high 33 points in the second half as the #22/19 Penn State Lady Lions staged a comeback after falling behind by 23 points but came up just short to Michigan State, 75-65, Jan. 7. The Lady Lions were saddled with 25 turnovers on the game. Lucas connected on a career-best seven three-pointers, including going 6-for-9 from deep in the second half, to go along with five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Senior guard Zhaque Gray chipped in eight points.
PERFECT ROAD START: The Lady Lions are off to a 4-0 start on the road in the Big Ten for the first time since 2003-04 when that squad started 5-0.
BENTLEY CLIMBS THEFTS LIST: With one steal at Michigan Jan. 26, junior guard Alex Bentley moved into a tie for 15th place on Penn State's career steals chart with 182 career thefts. She is tied with Dana Eikenberg (182; 1989-92) and Vanessa Paynter (182; 1984-87) for the spot. Bentley needs five steals to tie Annie Troyan (187; 1981-83) for 14th place.
BENTLEY MOVES INTO TOP 25 IN SCORING: With 18 points at Michigan Jan. 26, junior guard Alex Bentley moved past Lisa Faloon (1,162; 1984-87) for 25th place on Penn State's career scoring list. With 1,174 career points, 12 points to tie Bethany Collins (1,186; 1985-88) for 24th spot.
GREENE MOVING UP CHARTS: Junior center Nikki Greene continues to steadily moving up the career charts after pulling in 11 rebounds at Michigan Jan. 26. Greene now has 630 career rebounds and sits in 19th place on Penn State's career boards chart. With her effort against the Wolverines, Greene passed Tanisha Wright (621; 2002-05). She needs 15 rebounds to tie current assistant coach Maren Walseth (645; 1998-01) for 18th place. Additionally, Greene is in sixth place on the Penn State career blocks list with 157 rejections. She needs 15 blocks to move into the Top 5 all-time.
GREENE GETS 700TH POINT: Junior center Nikki Greene surpassed the 700-point mark for her career with a 13-point performance at Michigan Jan. 26. Greene now has 705 points in her three seasons in Happy Valley.
ELEVENTH TIME TO 20: Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas turned in her 11th game with 20 or more points with 23 markers in the win at Michigan Jan. 26. Lucas, who had 12 games with 20+ points as a freshman, was 10-for-13 from the field against the Wolverines and also hauled in eight rebounds to surpass the 200-rebound mark for her career.
The Lady Lions are back in the BJC to meet Indiana on Thursday, Feb. 2 for THON night at 7 p.m. Penn State will also celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day against the Hoosiers. The Lady Lions hit the road again for a Super Bowl Sunday matchup at Minnesota. Single game tickets and PNC Flex Books are available by calling 800-NITTANY. PNC Flex Books are $99 and give fans 12 vouchers, including one for the Coaches vs. Cancer game and one for the Pink Zone game, which can be redeemed for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets in any combination. The Starting 5 Pack is $49 and features tickets to three games of the buyer's choice, a ticket for the Ohio State ESPN2 Big Monday game on Monday, Feb. 20 and a ticket for the Pink Zone game against Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 26.
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.