Jan. 5, 2012
Michigan State Game Notes (1/7/12)
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The #22/19 Penn State Lady Lions (11-3, 1-1 Big Ten) make a return to network television when they host first-place Michigan State (10-5, 2-0) at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will air nationally on CBS with Dave Ryan (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (color) describing play. 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. Additionally, Penn State Alumni Association members and their families will get a $5 ticket with the membership card.
PROMOTIONS: 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. Additionally, there will be a Kids FunZone on the concourse with face painters, caricature artists, airbrush tattoos and a create-a-sign station. Penn State Alumni Association members and their families will get a $5 ticket with the membership card. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the gate just by showing a valid their PSU Alumni Association members. Offer not valid by phone. As always, Penn State students get in for free with ID.
GIVEAWAY: Fans will get a Lady Lion Basketball cheer card at the door.
LADY LION LEGENDS RETURN: This weekend marks Alumni Weekend for the Lady Lions. Many Lady Lion legends are expected to return, including Helen Darling, Andrea Garner, Kim Calhoun and Carla Coleman. The 1995 and 1996 Big Ten Tournament Championship teams will be honored at halftime of the Michigan State game.
TELEVISION: The game will air nationally on CBS with Dave Ryan (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (color) describing play.
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.
LAST TIME OUT: Coming off of a season-low shooting percentage, the Lady Lions rebounded to connect on 52.3% (34-65) of its shots on the way to an 82-49 win at Wisconsin Monday. The Lady Lions moved the ball well with 26 assists on 34 baskets. Sophomore Maggie Lucas 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 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 also reached double figures with 14 points.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans are 10-5 overall and a perfect 2-0 in Big Ten play with wins over Indiana and Michigan. Lykendra Johnson has been solid for Michigan State, averaging 9.5 points and a team-best 9.0 rebounds per game. Porsche Poole paces the balanced MSU scoring attack with a 10.8 scoring average. The Spartans are dangerous on the boards with a +9.1 rebounding margin.
ALL-TIME VS. THE SPARTANS: The Lady Lions are 24-11 all-time against the Spartans, including a stellar 14-3 record in home games. However, Michigan State has had the upper hand recently, winning eight of the last 11 match ups. In the only contests between the squads last year, the Spartans handed Penn State a 60-49 loss at the BJC.
LAST TIME VS. MSU: The Lady Lions shot a season-worst 32.7% (17-52) and turned the ball over 24 times in a 60-49 loss to Michigan State on Feb. 10, 2011. Mia Nickson paced Penn State with 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and 10-for-11 from the free throw line. She also pulled in six rebounds and had a steal. Maggie Lucas added 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals, while Julia Trogele pulled in a game-best 14 rebounds.
BACK ON CBS: The Lady Lions will be on CBS for Saturday's clash against Michigan State. It will be the first time on CBS for Penn State since defeating the Spartans, 69-57, in East Lansing on Jan. 5, 2008. The last time the Lady Lions hosted a CBS game was when they earned a 91-67 win over Florida on Jan. 8, 2000. Saturday will mark Penn State's 11th all-time appearance on CBS (4-6 in those games) and just the fourth CBS home game for the Lady Lions.
GREENE GET REJECTION #150: With a pair of blocks at Wisconsin Jan. 2, junior center Nikki Greene became the sixth player in school history with 150 career blocks. She joins a list that includes Kim Calhoun, Mary Donovan, Rashana Barnes, Andrea Garner and Amanda Brown. Greene is currently sixth on Penn State's career blocks list and needs 22 rejections to move into the Top 5.
BENTLEY MOVES UP HELPERS CHART: Junior guard Alex Bentley moved into 11th place on Penn State's career assists chart with eight helpers at Wisconsin Jan. 2. With 380 career assists, Bentley moves past Corinne Gulas (379).
LUCAS LENDS HELPING HAND: Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas was in a giving mood to start the New Year with a career-high seven assists in the win at Wisconsin Jan. 2. The seven helpers pass her previous career high of five set against Nevada and Middle Tennessee State earlier this year.
DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR MIA: In just her second game back after missing six games due to a mild concussion, junior Mia Nickson posted her first double-double of the season and seventh of her career with 10 points and 14 rebounds at Wisconsin Jan. 2. Nickson dominated the offensive glass, hauling in eight caroms. After struggling from the field early in the season, Nickson was efficient against the Badgers, going 5-for-6 from the floor.
TWO TICKET PACKAGES: The Lady Lions have made two additional ticket packages available for fans to enjoy this season with the Michigan 2-Play and the Starting 5 Pack. Both packages, in addition to PNC Flex Books and single-game tickets, are available by calling 800-NITTANY. The Michigan 2-Play will give fans tickets to see the Lady Lion face perennial Big Ten contender Michigan State on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. and an up-and-coming Michigan team on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. for just $18. 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.
GRAY INTO TOP 10: Senior Zhaque Gray moved into eighth place in the Penn State three-point field goals record books with a pair of triples at Wisconsin Jan. 2. Gray passed Brianne O'Rourke for eighth place in all-time three-point field goals made (122). She needs a two triples to tie Tina Nicholson (124) for seventh place.
GREENE MOVING UP CHARTS: Junior center Nikki Greene is steadily moving up the career charts after pulling in seven rebounds at Wisconsin. Greene now has 570 career rebounds and is 23rd on the all-time chart. Greene needs 14 rebounds to move past Kim Calhoun (583; 1993-96) for 22nd place. Additionally, Greene is in sixth place on the Penn State career blocks list with 150 rejections. She needs 23 blocks to move into the Top 5 all-time.
The Lady Lions continue their two-game homestand against Michigan on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. It will be Dollar Dog Night at the BJC. Penn State then heads on the road for a pair of games at Nebraska (Jan. 15) and at Illinois (Jan. 19). 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.