Sept. 19, 2013
Tickets! | Promotions | Lucas espnW Blog | LadyLions.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Former Penn State Lady Lions Alex Bentley and Tanisha Wright begin their quest for a WNBA title as first round action opens in the WNBA Playoffs this week. Bentley and the Atlanta Dream earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference and face the third-seeded Washington Mystics, while Wright and the No. 4 seed Seattle Storm meet the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx.
Bentley and the Dream will host the Mystics to open the best-of-three series Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2, before going to Washington on Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBA TV. Game three, if necessary, will be in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 23. The winner of the series will go on to face the winner of the Chicago-Indianapolis series.
In her first season in the WNBA, Bentley has been an impact player for the Dream, averaging 8.3 points, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game. She ranks third in the league in assists per turnover (2.4), 18th in total assists (95) and 19th in three-point field goal percentage (.329). Among rookies, Bentley is fourth in scoring. Earlier this season, she broke the WNBA record for consecutive three-pointers made with 10.
Wright and the Storm open in Minnesota on Friday at 9 p.m. on NBA TV, before heading back to Seattle for game 2 on Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN2. Game three, if necessary, will be back in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The winner of the Seattle-Minnesota series will face the winner of the Los Angeles-Phoenix series.
Wright, who is in her ninth season in the Storm, accounts for 11.9 points, 4.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. She is eight in the league in total assists (130), sixth in total minutes played (1,016) and 10th in assists per game. She is also 14th in free throw percentage (.855). Wright surpassed the 2,000-point mark for her WNBA career earlier this season. In eight career playoff appearances, Wright is averaging 10.0 points, 3.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals. The two-time WNBA All-Defensive first team selection helped the Storm to the 2010 WNBA Championship.
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 1: Washington at Atlanta, Thurs., Sept. 19, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Game 2: Atlanta at Washington, Sat., Sept. 21, 7 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3: Washington at Atlanta, Mon., Sept., 23, TBA (if necessary)
Western Conference Semifinals
Game 1: Seattle at Minnesota, Fri., Sept. 20, 9 p.m., NBA TV
Game 2: Minnesota at Seattle, Sun., Sept. 22, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Game 3: Seattle at Minnesota, Tues., Sept. 24, TBA (if necessary)
Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are 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 2013-14. New this year, the Lady Lions have introduced a Family Season Ticket package. For $200, fans will get two adult tickets and two youth tickets for the 2013-14 campaign. 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 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.