Nov. 3, 2012
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The eighth-ranked Penn State Lady Lions defeated California (Pa.), led by Lady Lion legend Jess Strom, by a score of 95-39 in an exhibition contest on Saturday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center. Junior guard Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) led the way for Penn State with 19 points, while senior Nikki Greene (Diboll, Texas) posted a double-double.
Penn State's leading scorer in the last two seasons, Lucas' 19 points came on 7-for-11 shooting from the field and a pair of three-pointers. The junior also added five rebounds, four assists and four steals in the victory. Greene scored 15 of her 18 points in the second half. She was 7-for-10 shooting and added 11 boards for a double-double came in just 21 minutes of action.
Junior point guard Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) tallied 16 points to go along with four helpers and three takeaways. Junior Ariel Edwards (Elmont, N.Y.) contributed 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and seven boards, while senior forward Mia Nickson (Ashburn, Va.) scored nine points and seven rebounds in the win.
Junior Dara Taylor (Wilmington, Del.), a transfer from Maryland, made her Lady Lion debut by scoring seven points with a game-high five dimes. Senior Gizelle Studevent (La Jolla, Calif.) scored eight points to go along with a steal and block.
The Lady Lions jumped out to an 11-3 advantage heading into the first media timeout. Lucas kicked the game off with a layup off the tip. Following a three by California, Bentley and Edwards each converted on a pair of free throws, followed by a put-back for Nickson and a three-pointer for Bentley to give Penn State an 11-3 lead less than two minutes into the contest.
Leading 13-6 at the 15:46 mark, the Lady Lions would go on a 10-0 run starting with a Nickson jumper in the paint. Bentley converted on a layup and was fouled, making the free throw to give Penn State an 18-6 lead. Nickson followed with a layup and Taylor scored and was fouled. The junior converted on the ensuing free throw to give the Lady Lions a 23-6 advantage.
Another 10-0 run for the Lady Lions started at the 10:48 mark in the first half when Nickson started things off with a layup. Bentley drained two free throws with 8:29 remaining and then Lucas followed with a step-back three to give the Lady Lions a 34-10 advantage. The run was capped off by Greene converting on a free throw and then a layup by the Texas native on a lob pass from Nickson. Penn State led 37-10 at that point in the contest.
Lucas would put the Lady Lions up by 31 points when she nailed a three with 6:07 remaining and then a layup on Penn State's next possession. Studevent gave the Lady Lions a first half-high 33-point lead when she scored on a back-door pass from junior Talia East (Philadelphia, Pa.). Penn State entered the half with a 48-23 lead.
In the second stanza, the Lady Lions jumped out to a 30-point lead when Greene scored on a beautiful inbound pass from Taylor to give Penn State a 55-25 advantage. Greene was not finished as she went on to score four consecutive points to give the Lady Lions a 34-point lead (59-25).
Taylor would begin a 21-0 run with a layup to give Penn State a 61-29 lead with 11:55 to go in the game. A jumper in the paint by Bentley and two free throws by Greene put the Lady Lions up, 65-29. Penn State would increase its lead to 40 points (69-29) when sophomore Tori Waldner (Milton, Ga.) grabbed the rebound off of a Studevent missed free throw for the put-back. Later in the run, Lucas would score five consecutive points to make it 78-29 in favor of the Lady Lions. A layup by Edwards would cap off the run. Overall, Penn State would finish the game on a 36-10 run.
The Lady Lions open their regular-season schedule on Sun., Nov. 11 against Howard at 2 p.m., at the Bryce Jordan Center, where the Lady Lions will raise their 2012 Big Ten Championship banner. Fans will receive a replica Big Ten Championship banner at the gates. The game is also Military Appreciation Day where fans that show their military ID will get four (4) free tickets and can purchase additional tickets for $5 each. It is also a Subway Full Court 4-Pack where fans will receive four reserved game tickets and one voucher for four 6" subs and four 21 oz. fountain drinks at any of the seven State College Subway locations for just $40!
Single game tickets for the Lady Lions are on sale now. Tickets are $15 and $12 for adults and seniors and $9 and $7 for youth (12 and younger). Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are still available by calling 1-800-NITTANY. Season tickets are $99 for adults and $50 for youth (12 and under), this includes a Nittany Lion Kids Club Membership for 2012-13. The PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, 10 that can be redeemed in any combination for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets throughout the year and two extra vouchers for the Nittany Lions' Coaches Vs. Cancer game and the Lady Lions' Pink Zone game.
The 2013 Pink Zone at Penn State will take place on Sunday, Feb. 24 as the Lady Lions take on Michigan in the Bryce Jordan Center. Last year, the Lady Lions donated a record $203,000 to 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.pennsylvaniapinkzone.org.
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.