Feb. 22, 2013
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Penn State senior Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) has been named a final nominee for the 14th annual Nancy Lieberman Award as announced by the Rotary Club of Detroit. Bentley is one of seven players on the list, joining Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Angel Goodrich (Kansas), Chelsea Gray (Duke), Lindsey Moore (Nebraska), Odyssey Sims (Baylor) and Haley Steed (BYU).
The Lieberman Award is a national project of the Rotary Club of Detroit honoring the nation's top collegiate point guard in women's Division I basketball. The criteria for the award are the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills that personified Hall of Famer, Nancy Lieberman during her career. Sportswriters from across the country will select three finalists from the list of seven and one winner at the beginning of April. The announcement of the three finalists and winner will be made during the Final Four Weekend (April 7-9, 2013). This year's award will be presented at a luncheon at The Detroit Athletic Club on April 17, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan.
The 2013 Big Ten Preseason Co-Player of the Year, Bentley currently ranks third in the country in steals with a 3.67 thefts average. The point guard is ninth in school history in points (1,683), eighth in field goals made (683), eighth in assists (546) and fourth in steals (309). She is just the fourth player in Big Ten history and the second player in school history, joining Suzie McConnell, to tally 1,500 points, 500 assists and 300 steals. Bentley is also one of 34 Lady Lions to net 1,000 career points.
Former Lady Lion Helen Darling was a finalist for the award in 2000. Past winners of the awards were Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame; 2012), Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga; 2011), Andrea Riley (Oklahoma State; 2010), Renee Montgomery (Connecticut; 2009), Kristi Toliver (Maryland; 2008), Lindsey Harding (Duke; 2007), Ivory Latta (North Carolina; 2006), Diana Taurasi (Connecticut; 2003, 2004), and Sue Bird (Connecticut; 2000, 2001, 2002).
Penn State closes out its home schedule with its annual Pink Zone game and Senior Day against Michigan Sunday. Fans will get a pink silicon bracelet, while supplies last and $3 of each single game ticket sold will go to the Pink Zone fundraising efforts. Prior to the game, the Lady Lions will recognize their five seniors. Penn State closes out the regular-season with road games at Minnesota on Feb. 28 at 9 p.m. (ET) and Nebraska on March 2 at 6 p.m. (ET), both of which can be seen on the Big Ten Network. Go to www.GoPSUsports.com/promotions/wbb.html for complete promotions information.
Single game tickets for the Lady Lions are on sale. Tickets are $15 and $12 for adults and seniors and $9 and $7 for youth (12 and younger). 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.
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