Nov. 30, 2013
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FREEPORT, Bahamas - The #14/13 Penn State Lady Lions (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) shot 57.6% in the first half and Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) scored 25 points as the Lady Lions topped Illinois State (1-3), 72-60, to win the Freeport Division of the Junkanoo Jam. It is the second Junkanoo Jam title for the Lady Lions with the first coming in 2003. Lucas was selected as the Tournament MVP and Dara Taylor (Wilmington, Del.) was named to the All-Tournament team.
The Lady Lions had six players with six or more points today, led by Lucas, who was 7-for-15 from the field and a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line en route to a game-high 25 points. She also had three assists and two steals. Taylor accounted for 12 points, three assists and three steals for the Lady Lions.Alex Harris (Lorain, Ohio) had six points and 11 rebounds, while Talia East (Philadelphia, Pa.) added four points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.
The Redbirds got on the scoreboard first with a basket by Octavia Crump, but Penn State scored 11 of the game's next 13 points thanks to a bucket by Lucas, five-straight points by Taylor and scores by East and Keke Sevillian (Goodrich, Mich.) sandwiched around a three-pointer by by Stekara Hall to give the Lady Lions an 11-5 lead with 16 minutes left.
Following an Illinois State score, Ariel Edwards (Elmont, N.Y.), Lucas and Candice Agee (Victorville, Calif.) each contributed to a 6-0 Penn State run to make it a 17-7 Lady Lion lead with 13:42 remaining. The Redbirds clicked off a 13-4 run of their own to close within a point at 21-20 with 9:37 on the clock, but Penn State responded with a 9-2 spurt that featured five points from Lucas to establish a 30-22 lead with 7:28 to play. The Redbirds once again sliced into the Lady Lion lead with a 6-2 run to make it a four-point game (32-28) with 3:41 left.
Kaliyah Mitchell (Stone Mountain, Ga.) hit her first career three-pointer and Taylor notched another steal and layup to extend the lead to 37-28 with three minutes remaining. Following a three by ISU, Mitchell grabbed the rebound and putback and Edwards scored to make it a 10-point lead (41-31) for the Lions. Each team scored three points in the final 1:15 to send PSU in to the break with a 44-34 lead.
Neither team could find a flow out of halftime as they combined for only six points in the first four minutes of the half to keep the Penn State lead at 10 points (47-37). After an exchange of three points for each team, Illinois State put together a 9-2 run to close within a possession (52-49) with 9:28 on the clock.
Sevillian hit a three-pointer and Lucas made six consecutive free throws to extend Penn State's lead to 61-49 with 5:50 to play. The squads swapped free throws for a stretch that saw the Lady Lions hold a 64-52 lead with 3:02 remaining. After a pair of baskets for the Redbirds, Lucas converted on a three-point play for the 67-56 margin with two minutes left. Illinois State would get no closer that nine points the rest of the way as the Lady Lions sealed the win from the free throw line.
The Lady Lions return to the Bryce Jordan Center for Big Ten/ACC Challenge where they will face Coquese Washington's alma mater Notre Dame on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30. It's Dollar Dog Night and a Subway Full Court 4 Pack game. Additionally, there will be a mini magnetic court giveaway as part of a series of six giveaways this season sponsored by Highmark.
Lady Lion Basketball single-game and season tickets are available by calling 1-800-NITTANY. Single-game tickets are $15 and $12 for adults and seniors and $9 and $7 for youth (12 and younger). 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 2014 Pink Zone at Penn State will take place on Sunday, Feb. 16 as the Lady Lions take on Wisconsin in the Bryce Jordan Center at 1 p.m. Last year, the Lady Lions donated a record $260,000 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. RECAP: