Feb. 18, 2012
Ohio State Game Notes (2/20/12)
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The No. 12/17 Penn State Lady Lions (21-5, 11-3) will square off against No. 9/11 Ohio State (23-3, 10-3) in a Big Ten matchup with regular-season title implications on Monday night at 7 p.m. in the BJC. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game and those fans wearing white can partake in a buy one ticket, get one free offer for Monday night's game at the ticket office prior to the contest. As always, Penn State students will get in for free. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com with Beth Mowins and Stephanie White describing play. This is the only meeting of the season between the Lady Lions and the Buckeyes.
PROMOTIONS: Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game and those fans wearing white can partake in a buy one ticket, get one free offer for Monday night's game at the ticket office prior to the contest. Additionally, Penn State Alumni Association members can buy tickets for $5. As always, Penn State students will get in for free. The first 300 PSU students will also receive a white Lady Lion Basketball t-shirt, while the first 100 Penn State students will also get a voucher for a free Domino's Pizza and a $5 gift card to McLanahan's.
GIVEAWAYS: Fans will receive a Lady Lion car flag and a Penn State rally towel while supplies last at the gates.
HALFTIME: The acrobatic act Red Panda will perform at halftime.
TELEVISION: The game will air on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com with Beth Mowins and Stephanie White on the call.
RADIO/LIVE STATS: The game is on the Penn State Sports Network and on 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: In a game that featured seven ties and 12 lead changes, the No. 12/17 Penn State Lady Lions claimed a 74-63 win at No. 17/19 Purdue Thursday. The Lady Lions win in West Lafayette for the first time since Jan. 2, 2004, snapping a six-game road losing streak to the Boilers. The Lady Lions landed four players in double figures, led by Maggie Lucas, who was 5-for-7 from three-point range, en route to a game-high 28 points. She scored 20 points in the second half as the Lady Lions pushed past the Boilers. Junior forward Mia Nickson had a near double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes are 23-3 overall and 10-3 in Big Ten play, including wins over Indiana and Purdue heading into Monday's game. OSU is ninth in the AP poll and 11th in ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Buckeyes are led by the tandum of Tayler Hill and Samantha Prahalis. Hill is tops in the Big Ten in scoring at a 21.3 per game average and has a team-best 65 steals. Prahalis is second on the squad in scoring at a 19.8 clip.
ALL-TIME VS. THE BUCKEYES: The Lady Lions are 31-21 all-time against Ohio State, but have lost 12 of the last 13 games against the Buckeyes. Penn State snapped an 11-game losing streak to OSU with an 80-71 win at home on Jan. 30, 2011. The Lady Lions are 16-6 all-time in home games against the Buckeyes.
LAST TIME VS. OSU: The Lady Lions' Big Ten Tournament run came to an end with a 84-70 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game March 6, 2011. Mia Nickson scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half to lead the Lady Lions. She also pulled in four rebounds in the loss. Alex Bentley added 16 points, three assists and three steals, while Zhaque Gray chipped in 13 points and a pair of assists.
FOURTEENTH TIME TO 20: Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas turned in her 14th game with 20 or more points with 28 markers, including 20 in the second half, in the road win over Purdue Feb. 16. Lucas, who had 12 games with 20+ points as a freshman, was 5-for-7 from long range against the Boilers.
BENTLEY MOVES UP SCORING LIST: With 10 points at Purdue Feb. 16, junior guard Alex Bentley moved past Kam Gissendanner (1,238; 2006-08) and Tina Nicholson (1,240; 1993-96) for 21st place on Penn State's career scoring list. With 1,245 career points, Bentley needs 35 points to tie Louise Leimkuhler (1,280; 1980-82) for 20th spot.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Lady Lions picked up their 10th road win of the season with a 74-63 decision at #17/19 Purdue Feb. 16. The 10 road victories are the most by a Penn State team since the 1993-94 team won 11 contests away from Happy Valley.
ANOTHER TOP 10 THREES SEASON: Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas moved up two positions to eight place on Penn State's single-season three-pointers chart with five triples at Purdue Feb. 16. With 61 three-pointers this season, Lucas moves past Zhaque Gray (2010-11) and Kelly Mazzante (2000-01) for eighth spot. Lucas holds the Penn State and Big Ten record for three-pointers with 112 makes from long range as a freshman last year.
PINK ZONE GAME TIME: The Penn State Lady Lions will host the Sixth Annual WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State game against Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
GREENE MOVING UP CHARTS: Junior center Nikki Greene continues to steadily moving up the career charts after pulling in eight rebounds at Purdue Feb. 16. Greene now has 674 career rebounds and sits in 16th place on Penn State's career boards chart. With her effort against the Boilers, Greene passed Helen Darling (672; 1997-00) on the career chart. She needs 16 rebounds to tie former teammate Julia Trogele (690, 2008-11) for 15th place. Additionally, Greene is in sixth place on the Penn State career blocks list with 166 rejections. She needs six blocks to move into the Top 5 all-time.
BENTLEY CLIMBS THEFTS LIST: With four steals at Purdue Feb. 16, junior guard Alex Bentley moved into a tie for 13th place on Penn State's career steals chart with 196 career thefts, equalling the total by Brianne O'Rourke (196; 2006-09). Bentley needs 19 steals to tie Sue Martin (215; 1976-80) for 12th. Bentley also needs four thefts to become just the 13th player in school history with 200 steals.
LUCAS INTO 5TH ON 3S LIST: Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas moved into fifth place on Penn State's career three-pointers list with five triples at Purdue Feb. 16. She passed Tiffany Longworth (175; 1994-97) with her effort versus the Boilers. Lucas needs one three-pointer to tie Tyra Grant (179; 2007-10) for fourth spot.
Penn State closes out the regular-season with the Pink Zone game versus Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and $3 from every single-game ticket sold will be donated to the Pink Zone fundraising efforts. There will be a jersey auction post-game for the Lady Lions' game-worn Pink Zone jerseys. 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 2012 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State will take place on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. 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.