Dec. 3, 2013
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The #11/10 Penn State Lady Lions (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) return to the Bryce Jordan Center for a Top 10 match-up against #5/4 Notre Dame (6-0) Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. It's Dollar Dog Night and a Subway Full Court 4 Pack game on Wednesday. Additionally fans will receive a mini magnetic court sponsored by Highmark, the first giveaway in a series of six this season, while supplies last.
PROMOTIONS: It's Dollar Dog Night at the BJC. Additionally, it is a Subway Full Court 4 Pack game where fans can get four tickets, one voucher for four 6" subs and four 21 oz. fountain drinks at any of the seven State College Subway locations for just $40.
GIVEAWAY: Fans will receive a mini magnetic court sponsored by Highmark while supplies last. This giveaway is the first in a series of six giveaways this season; the next giveaway will be a Talia East mini-bobblehead on Sunday, Dec. 15.
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.
TV: The game will air live on the Big Ten Network with Eric Collins and Stephanie White describing play.
RADIO: The game is on the Penn State Sports Network and WRSC 1390 locally with Jerry Fisher calling the action. The audio feed is available at www.GoPSUsports.com.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Lions shot 57.6% in the first half and Maggie Lucas scored 25 points as the Lady Lions topped Illinois State, 72-60, to win the Freeport Division of the Junkanoo Jam. Penn State defeated Oregon State, 61-56, in the opening round of the tournament Friday. Penn State had six players with six or more points, 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. Taylor accounted for 12 points, three assists and three steals for the Lady Lions. Alex Harris had six points and 11 rebounds, while Talia East added four points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME: The Irish head to Happy Valley ranked fourth in this week's Associated Press poll with a perfect 6-0 record, including wins over Michigan State and DePaul. Jewell Loyd leads six Irish players averaging double figures with a 17.2 scoring average. She also pulls in 7.0 rebounds per outing. Pennsylvania native Kayla McBride is second on the team in scoring at a 15.5 per game rate and also averages 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Notre Dame is averaging 90.7 points per game and is outscoring its opponents by 32.5 points per game.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE IRISH: The Lady Lions are 5-0 all-time against Notre Dame, including a 2-0 mark in home games. Penn State and Irish last met on Nov. 16, 2006 with the Lady Lions claiming a 75-49 win. The Lady Lions are 84-41 all-time against current ACC members.
LAST TIME VS. UND: The Lady Lions started the game with a 15-2 run and never looked back on the way to a 75-49 win over Notre Dame in the BJC on Nov. 16, 2006. Tyra Grant connected on 4-of-8 shots from the field and all 10 of her free throws en route to a game-high 19 points. Kam Gissendanner tallied 13 points, while Amanda Brown accounted for 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots. Coquese Washington was on the Irish staff as the associate head coach that evening and was named to the Penn State head position just five months later.
BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE: The Lady Lions are 2-4 all-time in ACC/Big Ten Challenge games, but are 2-1 in home games. Penn State picked up Challenge wins over North Carolina (2011) and Duke (2007), but has suffered losses to Miami (2012), Boston College (2010), Georgia Tech (2009) and Florida State (2008). ACC/Big Ten Challenge has produced several high scoring affairs with the Lady Lions averaging 79.7 points per game, including a pair of 100-point outings.
HOSTING ANOTHER TOP 5 TEAM: The Lady Lions will host their second Top 5 team of the season when the #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish come to town. Penn State also hosted top-ranked UConn Nov. 17. This is the first time since 2000-01 that Penn State has welcomed a pair of Top 5 programs to the BJC in a single season. That season, the Lady Lions met #3 Duke on Nov. 20 (L, 88-87) and #5 Purdue on Feb. 22 (W, 75-65) in the friendly confines of the Bryce Jordan Center. Wednesday marks the 21st time that a Top 5 team has come to Happy Valley. The Lady Lions are 12-8 all-time in home games against Top 5 teams.
COQUESE FACES ALMA MATER & MENTOR: Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington will square off for the first time against her alma mater, Notre Dame, and her mentor, Muffet McGraw. Washington was a four-year starting point guard for McGraw and the Irish, where she led Notre Dame to its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Washington was a two-time All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference selection and led UND to three MCC Tournament titles. After playing professionally, Washington returned to South Bend as an assistant coach under McGraw in 1999. She was an assistant from 1999-05 and was promoted to associate head coach from 2005-07, when she took the Penn State head coaching position.
MORE NOTRE DAME CONNECTIONS: In addition to her relationship with McGraw, Washington coached current Irish assistant Niele Ivey, who won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award for the nation's top player under 5-8. Washington is also close friends with Notre Dame associate head coach Carol Owens, who is the godmother to Washington's two children, Quenton and Rhaiyna.
POTTHOFF RETURNS TO ALMA MATER: Coquese Washington is not the only person facing her alma mater in this match-up, former Lady Lion standout Angie Potthoff returns to Happy Valley with Notre Dame as the Associate Director of Operations & Technology. She is in her ninth season on the Notre Dame staff. She served as an assistant coach for five season before taking her current position. Potthoff was an Associated Press and WBCA All-America honorable metion choice and a three-time All-Big Ten first team selection as a Lady Lion. She currently ranks ninth in program history in scoring (1,725), sixth in rebounding (918) and second in field goal percentage (.574).
LIONS CLAIM TOURNEY TITLE: The Lady Lions won the Freeport Division of the Junkanoo Jam with wins over Oregon State (61-56) and Illinois State (72-60). It is the second Junkanoo Jam title for the Lady Lions with the first coming in 2003. Maggie Lucas was selected as the Tournament MVP and Dara Taylor was named to the All-Tournament team. Lucas had 17 points and five rebounds against the Beavers and 25 points, three assists and two steals against the Redbirds. Taylor accounted for 10 points, six assists and three steals versus OSU and followed that up with 12 points, three assists and three steals against ISU.
The Lady Lions begin a two-game road trip to Georgetown on Sunday at 2 p.m. and then visit South Dakota State on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. (ET). PSU returns home to face nationally-ranked Texas A&M on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. Fans will get a Talia East mini-bobblehead while supplies last as the second in a series of six giveaways.
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.