Feb. 21, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Penn State Lady Lion sophomore Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) claimed her first Big Ten Player of the Week award after leading the Lady Lions to a pair of ranked wins last week and a share of the Big Ten regular-season title for the first time since 2004. Lucas averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals in wins over #17/19 Purdue and #8/11 Ohio State. Lucas is the first Lady Lion to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors since Tyra Grant claimed the award on Jan. 27, 2009.
In Thursday's road win at #17/19 Purdue, Lucas was 10-for-18 from the field, including 5-for-7 from three-point range, en route to a game-high 28 points. She also pulled in two rebounds and had an assist against the Boilers. Lucas posted her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in Penn State's win over #8/11 Ohio State that clinched at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title and the #1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament on Monday night. Lucas also had an assist and three steals versus the Buckeyes.
An eight-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week last year, Lucas is tied for seventh on Penn State's single-season three-pointers chart with Lisa Shepherd (1998-99) with 67 triples this year. She has also moved into 31st place on Penn State's career scoring chart (1,069) after becoming just the third sophomore in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark earlier this season.
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.