Dec. 9, 2013
By Mike Esse, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Maggie Lucas wasn't pleased with her performance against No. 4 Notre Dame on Wednesday and put it behind her with ease in No. 10/11 Penn State's (6-2) 77-68 win at Georgetown (5-3) on Sunday.
The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year scored 30 points, shooting 10-for-21 from the field and 5-for-12 from downtown. The hot scoring night also put Lucas in Penn State's exclusive 2,000-point club, becoming just the fifth Lady Lion to do it.
Sunday was a drastic difference from her 1-for-8 night against the Fighting Irish, but her coaches and teammates were far from surprised.
"We weren't too concerned (about Maggie)," said assistant coach Maren Walseth. "She's a very focused player and knows what she needs to do to be successful. Her and [assistant coach] Fred Chmiel were in the office watching film and looking at the adjustments she needed to make and it paid off."
Lucas started off the game on an encouraging note, hitting two of her first three shots, both of which came from long range, to get her confidence going from the outset of the game.
The way Lucas came out firing Sunday was a positive for herself, but more than likely even more important for the seven freshman Lady Lions to see their senior leader respond well after a poor shooting night.
"It's good for the rest of the girls to see that you can have a bad game and control your shot selection the next game and have 30 points," said Walseth. "Her performance speaks more to her teammates and the younger players than to our coaching staff."
After the loss to Notre Dame the focus for the mix of veteran and youthful Lady Lions was executing the game plan laid out, no matter who the opponent may be.
With a lot of contributors early in their collegiate careers it's a little different from last year when the game plan didn't have to be followed nearly verbatim because of the experienced players on the floor. This year, Walseth says that isn't the case.
"We have to execute the game plan and do what we are supposed to," she said. "We can't freelance as much with young players. Executing the game plan is much more important with young kids."
Having Lucas as her usual self - a reliable scoring threat - makes that easier to do.
"Whether she likes it or not, everybody feeds off of Maggie," the seventh year assistant said. "When she is playing relaxed, under control and confident, her teammates pick it up. She was able to do that today and others were able to pick [the intensity] up."
Three other Lady Lions were in double figures, supplementing Lucas' 30-point night. Dara Taylor and Ariel Edwards each chipped in 10 points, while Talia East added 10 points vs. the Hoyas.
The added scoring is something Coquese Washington and the coaching staff has been looking for all season long on a consistent basis. Lucas' scoring effort certainly showed that if more focus is put on her, she has capable teammates to make opponents pay.
"When Maggie can come back and fill her role [as a scoring threat] it makes it easier for everyone else. They know what to expect and are able to execute and fill their roles better when Maggie is scoring," Walseth said.
Penn State returns to the road Wednesday against South Dakota State before welcoming 2010-11 NCAA Champion Texas A&M to the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday at 2 p.m.