Feb. 24, 2014
Tickets! | Promotions | Lucas espnW Blog | LadyLions.com | Nominate for Hometown Hero
2014 NCAA Tournament First & Second Round Tickets | Vote for Maggie Lucas!
LINCOLN, NEB. - The #11/8 Penn State Lady Lions (21-6, 12-3 Big Ten) ran into a hot-shooting #17/16 Nebraska (21-5, 11-3) as the Huskers shot 72.7% (16-22) from three-point range en route to a 94-74 win over the Lions. With the loss, Penn State falls into a three-way tie for first place in the Big Ten standings heading into its final game against Michigan on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the BJC.
Senior guard/forward Ariel Edwards (Elmont, N.Y.) was 10-for-13 from the field en route to 24 points, which ties her career high set twice previously. It is her sixth career 20-point performance and fifth of the season. She also knocked down a career-high four three-pointers. Fellow senior Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) scored all 17 of her points in the second half. She connected on three three-pointers to close within two triples of Kelly Mazzante's Big Ten and Penn State career three-pointers record.
Dara Taylor (Wilmington, Del.) added 10 points, four assists and three steals in the loss, while freshman Peyton Whitted (Suwanee, Ga.) added six points and two rebounds off of the bench. Senior Talia East (Philadelphia, Pa.) snagged 12 rebounds to go along with seven points.
The squads exchanged scores as it was 5-5 in the first minute of the game before the Huskers clicked off a 16-2 run to take a 21-7 lead five minutes into the game. Nebraska made eight of its first nine shots of the contest.
Taylor sparked a brief 9-3 Lady Lion run scoring six points, while Edwards added a three-pointer to make it a 24-16 Husker lead with less than 10 minutes to play. Nebraska responded with an 8-3 run of its own the push its lead back to 32-19 with 7:12 remaining.
Whitted scored four straight points to cut the gap to nine, but the Huskers went on a 20-7 run which included an 11-0 spurt to end the half and send the teams into the break with Nebraska leading 52-30.
Nebraska continued to click and extended the lead to 32 points (75-43) with 12 minutes to play. The Lady Lions fought back with a 14-1 run that featured a pair of Lucas three-pointers to close the gap to 76-57 with eight minutes left. Penn State would get as close as 18 down the stretch, but Huskers closed out the win
GAME NOTES: With four assists, Dara Taylor moved into a tie for 19th with 237 on the Penn State all-time career assists list, surpassing Jenny Kretchmar (234; 1990-93) and matching Kelly Mazzante (237; 2001-04) ... Ariel Edwards matched a career high in points with 24, equaling her previous best of 24 points which came earlier this season at South Dakota State (12/11/13) and against Detroit (11/23/12) ... Talia East matched a season high and Big Ten play high in rebounds with 12 matching her previous best of 12 which has occurred twice this season, both times in Big Ten play ... Maggie Lucas made five shots from the field, moving the senior into third place on the Lady Lions' all-time career leader list for field goals made with 773, passing Tanisha Wright (771; 2002-05) ... Lucas' 17 points broke a tie for fourth place on the Big Ten all-time scoring list with MaChelle Joseph (2,405; 1989-92), as the Lucas now sits alone in fourth with 2,422 ... Lucas leapt nine spots on the NCAA all-time career scoring list, now in 67th place with 2,422 points ... Lucas moved into 12th place on the all-time career three point field goals made chart with three makes on Monday evening. The senior now has 355 treys in her career ...The loss snaps an eight-game Big Ten road win streak, dating back to last season ... It is Penn State's worst loss since a 22-point loss to Ohio State on Feb. 17, 2011.
The Lady Lions close out the regular season with Senior Day and Alumni Day against Michigan on Saturday, March 1 at 3:30 p.m. There will be a pregame ceremony to honor the four-member senior class. Penn State Alumni Association members can show their card and get a $5 ticket. It's also a Subway Full Court 4-Pack game.
Lady Lion Basketball single-game 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). 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.
For the 15th time, Penn State will host the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament First and Second Rounds on March 23 and 25, 2014. All-session tickets are $30 for adults and $17 for youth and students. There is also an all-session group rate for groups of 20 or more of any age at $20 per package. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1-800-NITTANY or visiting the Penn State athletics ticket office between the hours of 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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.