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Lady Lions Host St. Francis (Pa.) in Season Opener Friday

Nov. 6, 2013

St. Francis (Pa.) Game Notes | | Audio Feed ($)

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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) will kick off the 2013-14 season in the friendly confines of the Bryce Jordan Center when they host intrastate foe St. Francis (Pa.) on Friday at 7 p.m. The Lady Lions will raise their 2013 Big Ten Championship banner pregame and fans will receive a commemorative Championship Ring Bank while supplies last. It is also Dollar Dog night at the BJC. Doors open at 6 p.m.

PROMOTIONS: The Lady Lions will raise the 2013 Big Ten Championship banner pregame. It is also the first Dollar Dog Night of the season at the BJC.

GIVEAWAY: Fans will receive a commemorative Championship Ring Bank while supplies last.

LIMITED BAG POLICY: Penn State has implemented a limited bag policy at all home athletic events this season. One clear plastic one-gallon plastic bag per person will be permitted for medical needs, child care needs and general items as needed. Items that can fit in a pocket should remain in patrons' pockets (i.e. keys, cell phone, wallet, glasses, camera, sunscreen, lip balm, make-up). General items of this nature, including those that don't fit in patrons' pocket, can also be placed in a clear plastic one-gallon plastic bag. All clear bags will be inspected through the bag and article check stations as in prior years.

RADIO: The game is on the Penn State Sports Network and WRSC 1390 locally with Jerry Fisher and Julia Trogele calling the action. The audio feed is available at www.GoPSUsports.com.

LAST TIME OUT: Senior guard/forward Ariel Edwards registered 21 points to pace the Penn State Lady Lions to a 102-51 exhibition win over Division II Lock Haven on Oct. 27. Every Penn State player scored against the Eagles, including five players with nine or more points. Fellow senior Maggie Lucas scored 19 points, including three makes from distance and an 8-for-8 performance from the free throw line. The third Lady Lion in double figures on the afternoon was freshman Peyton Whitted, who scored 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting.

SCOUTING ST. FRANCIS (PA.): The Red Flash went 17-16 overall and 10-8 in Northeast Conference play a year ago. They did reach the postseason, playing in the Women's Basketball Invitational where they fell to Fairfield in the first round. Senior Alli Williams is a solid all-around player for SFU out of Altoona. She averaged a double-double a year ago with 17.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. She is also the top returning assist producers for the Flash, accounting for 2.3 helpers per outings a year ago. Alexa Hayward also returns for the Red Flash after averaging 8.1 points a year ago. She was SFU's top three-point threat last season, knocking down 55 shots from beyond the arc.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE RED FLASH: The Lady Lions are 5-1 all-time against St. Francis (Pa.). Penn State won the first five games of the series, before falling in the most recent meeting on Nov. 28, 2006. Penn State is 8-1 all-time against current Northeast Conference members.

LAST TIME VS. SFU: The Lady Lions dropped a heartbreaking 74-69 decision to St. Francis (Pa.) in Loretto, Pa. on Nov. 28, 2006. Amanda Brown was 8-for-9 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free throw line en route to a game-high 22 points. Adrienne Squire knocked down five three-pointers and finished with 18 points, while Charity Renfro also reached double figures with 10 tallies to go along with eight rebounds.

BIG TEN PRESEASON HONORS: Senior guard Maggie Lucas was selected as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by both the league's coaches and media. Lucas was a unanimous selection to the preseason All-Big Ten first team by both the coaches and media. This is the second-straight season that Lucas has been named to the preseason All-Big Ten first team. The Lady Lions were picked to finish second in the conference by both groups.

POLLING AROUND: The Lady Lions begin the season ranked 15th in the preseason USA Today Sports Coaches' Poll. Penn State will also open the year ranked 13th in the preseason Associated Press Poll. This is the third-straight season that the Lady Lions have started the season ranked.

Penn State hosts Fordham Sunday at 2 p.m. to close out the opening weekend. It's "We Back Pat" Alzheimer's Awareness Day, as well as Father-Daughter Day. Dads can bring their daughters to the game for free. The Lady Lions' homestand continues against #1 Connecticut on Sunday, Nov. 17 at noon.

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.