July 21, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions and the Pink Zone at Penn State will help the State College Spikes as they "Paint the Park Pink" for breast cancer awareness on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 6:05 p.m. against Hudson Valley. As part of the Pink Zone celebration, there will be a special Pink Zone discounted ticket for a Field Box ticket for just $8.50. Please contact Brian at the Spikes (814-272-0237) to order you special Pink Zone ticket.
Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington will throw out the first pitch for the game and members of the Lady Lions will sign autographs on the concourse during the second inning. As part of their "Paint the Park Pink" night, the Spikes will wear a special pink ribbon jersey to benefit the Foundation for Mount Nittany Medical Center. The first 1,000 fans of all ages will receive a Pink Ribbon Drawstring Bag.
Additionally, it's a traditional Sunday Kids Day for the Spikes where kids can enjoy a pregame catch on the field, postgame fireworks and run the bases after the game. August 3 is also a Kids Eat & Play Free game as kids 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, chips, soda and one-time play pass in Ike's Kids Zone.
The 2014 Pink Zone at Penn State saw the Lady Lions donate $310,000 to six breast cancer charities, breaking the stated fundraising goal of $300,000. The funds raised by the 2014 Pink Zone at Penn State were donated to charities on the local, state and national level and included Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, Kay Yow Cancer Fund, J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital and Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital. In addition to donating a record amount to breast cancer charities, the Lady Lions also surpassed the one million dollar mark for fundraising in the Pink Zone's eight-year history. In eight Pink Zone annual events, the Lady Lions have now donated $1,135,317.73 to various breast cancer charities.
The Lady Lions welcomed a record 698 breast cancer survivors and 12,585 fans to the Bryce Jordan Center as Penn State took on Wisconsin on February 16, 2014. The Lions topped the Badgers, 78-68, in front of the sixth-largest crowd in BJC history as they honored breast cancer survivors and generated awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Additionally, the Lady Lions were selected as the Play 4Kay Division I winner for their efforts in raising funds and awareness for breast cancer for the second-straight year.
The Lady Lions claimed their third-straight Big Ten regular-season title with a 24-8 overall record and 13-3 mark in conference play. It is the first time in school history that the Lady Lions won three consecutive regular-season crowns (Big Ten or Atlantic 10). Penn State has made four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and reached the Sweet Sixteen last year after wins over Wichita State and Florida.
After the graduation of a very accomplished senior class, senior forward Tori Waldner (Milton, Ga.) is the top returnee for Penn State. She started every game as a junior and averaged 4.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She also rejected 39 shots a year ago to bring her career total to 89, which is tied for 11th on PSU's career list.
Also returning for the Lady Lions are sophomores Kaliyah Mitchell (Stone Mountain, Ga.) and Peyton Whitted (Suwanee, Ga.). Mitchell is the second-leading returning scoring at 4.5 points per game to go along with 4.4 rebounds per outing. Whitted accounted for 3.6 points and 3.3 rebounds with a .522 field goal percentage in conference play. Overall, she was second on the team in field goal percentage with a .463 mark.
Penn State opens its season with the WNIT against Towson on Friday, Nov. 14 at noon for a "School Day Special" in the Bryce Jordan Center.
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.