March 1, 2016
| GAME 30 | |
| Wednesday, March 1- 4 p.m. ET | |
| Bankers Life Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, Ind. | |
| Game Day Information: | |
| GAME DAY LINKS | |
| TV: Big Ten Network (Live) Lisa Byington, Christy Winters Scott & Shelley Till | |
| BTN2go Video | |
| Women's Basketball Blog | |
| Follow Us: @PennStateWBB | Facebook | Instagram | |
| Game Notes: Penn State | Illinois | |
| Statistics: Penn State | Illinois | |
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. ââ'¬" Tournament time has arrived and the Penn State women's basketball team will open the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, March 2 against Illinois at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The No. 11 seed Lady Lions (11-18, 6-11 B1G) will face the No. 14 Fighting Illini (9-20, 2-16 B1G) at approximately 4 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
Getting Social
Follow Penn State women's basketball on Facebook by clicking here or on Twitter by clicking here. Stay up to date with all of our 31 varsity programs on your favorite social media platforms by clicking here. You can also stay up to date with the women's basketball program on LadyLions.com.
At A Glance
// Freshman Teniya Page was a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection, as well as a second team all-conference pick after being the first freshman in the NCAA to reach the 400-point/100-assists mark this season. More on Page 9, 11, 14, 15 & 53.
// Senior Brianna Banks was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten this season after averaging 13.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. More on Page 9, 11, 17 & 47.
// Sophomore Lindsey Spann was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the conference coaches. She logged 13.1 points per game and 3.1 rebounds, while handing out 2.6 assists per game. More on Page 9, 11, 18 & 55.
// As a team, Penn State enters today's game averaging just 14.7 turnovers per game, a total that would rank No. 5 in the Penn State history books. More on Page 12 & 13.
// Penn State completed a pair of double-digit comebacks this season, rallying from 14 points down on Feb. 11 at No. 15/17 Michigan State and overcoming an 11-point margin to win at Illinois on Jan. 23. More on Page 13 & 20.
// Penn State owns a 25-19 record at the Big Ten Tournament winning a pair of titles in 1995 and 1996. More on Pages 2-7.
Scouting Illinois
// Illinois closed the regular season with a 9-20 overall record and a 2-16 mark in Big Ten play. The Illini's two wins in conference both came against Wisconsin.
// The Illini are one of the most efficient teams in the country at taking care of the basketball, ranking No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 32 nationally with just 13.5 turnovers per game.
// The low turnover rate has also produced the No. 4 turnover margin in the Big Ten at +2.3. That mark sits No. 81 in the NCAA.
// The three-point shot is a great equalizer and Illinois ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 35 in the NCAA with 7.4 made triples per game. Their 216 makes from distance are 23rd nationally and third in the conference.
// Illinois is led by second team all-conference center Chatrice White. She leads the team with 18.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.5 steals per game this season.
// White has amassed 18 double-doubles this season, a total that leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 6 nationally.
// Redshirt Senior Kyley Simmons is among the top three-point shooters in the conference and the NCAA, ranking No. 6 in the Big Ten in makes per game (2.5) and three-point shooting percentage (.379). Those total ranks No. 50 and No. 63, respectively, in the NCAA.
// Big Ten All-Freshman team pick Alex Wittinger is also a force in the paint, collecting 40 blocked shots to rank No. 5 in the Big Ten at 1.7 swats per game.
Last Meeting - at Illinois (Jan. 23, 2016)
// Teniya Page logged her fourth career 20-point game with 27 tallies at Illinois.
// Thirteen of Pages 27 points came in the fourth quarter, with 17 coming in the second half.
// Page added five rebounds and two assists in the contest, playing 39 minutes and committing only one turnover.
// Page was also 9-of-9 from the free throw stripe.
// Brianna Banks secured her 12th straight double-figure scoring game with 12 points at Illinois.
// Penn State closed the game on a 41-21 scoring spurt that spanned the final 15 minutes of the game.
// Penn State netted 10 field goals in the fourth quarter, after making just 10 field goals combined in the first three quarters.
Last Time Out - at Indiana (Feb. 27, 2016)
// Brianna Banks led the team with 13 points to mark her 22nd double-digit effort of the season.
// Banks added a career-best-tying seven rebounds, equaling her total from games vs. Northwestern (12/31) and Purdue (1/30).
// Peyton Whitted moved past the 500 career point mark with an eight-point effort at Indiana.
// Whitted also tied for team-high with seven boards, the 17th time this season she has led or tied for the team lead in rebounds.
// Whitted's seven rebounds give her 234 on the season, moving her into a tie for No. 30 on the single season charts. She is tied with Mia Nickson (2010-11).
// Teniya Page handed out six assists for her 11th game of the season with at least five assists.
// Page led the team in assists for the 19th time in 2015-16 and moved her season total to 118 helpers, which sits No. 7 on the all-time freshman charts at Penn State.
// Page started her 29th game of the season to move her into a tie for No. 9 on the Penn State freshman starts list. Her 29 starts are tied with Brianna O'Rourke (2005-06).
// Jaylen Williams scored a career-high seven points at Indiana.
Three Lions Named All-Big Ten
// Freshman Teniya Page, senior Brianna Banks and sophomore Lindsey Spann all collected postseason honors from the Big Ten Conference coaches and media.
// Freshman Sarah McMurtry was named Penn State's Big Ten Sportsmanship award winner. The walk-on joined the team in October and appeared in eight games this season ââ'¬" five of those in Big Ten play. She connected on her lone basket of the season vs. No. 5/5 Maryland with a three-pointer.
// After one of the most productive freshman campaigns in program history, Page became just the second Penn State rookie to be unanimously selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team, joining Alex Bentley (2010).
// She also earned second team all-conference accolades from the Big Ten coaches and honorable mention all-conference from the media. Her second team selection makes her just the third Penn State rookie to earn either first or second team honors at season's end, joining Maggie Lucas (2nd Team, 2011) and Kelly Mazzante (1st Team, 2001).
// The rookie was the first freshman in the country to eclipse 400-points and 100-assists this season, sitting as the only rookie to average at least 15.0 points and 4.0 assists per game.
// Page currently ranks among the PSU freshman leaders in points (5th, 437), scoring average (5th, 15.1), field goals made (7th, 152), three-pointers made (7th, 34), three-point percentage (4th, .420), free throws made (4th, 99), assists (7th, 118), minutes per game (1st, 37.4) and games started (T9th, 29).
// Banks earned honorable mention accolades from both the conference's coaches and media contingent after averaging a career-high 13.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
// In her only season in the blue and white, she logged 22 double-figure scoring games ââ'¬" including five 20-point efforts. She poured in 14.4 points per game in Big Ten play, and led the team with 31 steals and 11 blocked shots versus conference foes.
// Spann followed up a solid freshman campaign with an equally impressive sophomore season, ranking second on the team in assists (76) and third on the team in scoring (13.1 ppg).
// Spann logged 20 games with at least 10 points, which included five 20-point efforts. Her 60 made three-pointers currently sit tied for No. 13 on the single season charts with Tiffany Longworth (1995-96) and are just seven shy of cracking the top-10.
// Spann set career-highs for points (30, at Minnesota), rebounds (9, vs. Rutgers) and assists (8, at Iowa) in Big Ten play this season, and added her first two career blocks against Big Ten opponents in 2016.
Balanced in the Scoring Column
// Penn State has seen at least three players reach double figures in 23 of 29 games this season.
// Four Lady Lions have eclipsed the 10-point mark in 15 games - including five games with five players scoring 10-plus points.
// At USF, Penn State placed all five starters in double figures, as Brianna Banks, Kaliyah Mitchell, Teniya Page, Lindsey Spann & Peyton Whitted all topped the 10-point mark.
// It was the first time since Jan. 25, 2015 that five different Lady Lions scored 10 or more points in the same game.
// The same five players tallied 10-plus points vs. Nebraska (1/13), at Iowa (1/20) and vs. Purdue (1/30).
// at Northwestern (2/17), Candice Agee joined Mitchell, Page, Spann and Whitted to account for five players with 10-plus points.
// Perspective: In 2014-15, Penn State had four players reach double-figures in the same game on seven occasions, including two games with five players in double-digits.
Limiting Turnovers
// Penn State has limited its turnovers this season, averaging just 14.7 per contest.
// Only four Penn State teams have ever averaged less than 15.0 turnovers per game; 2003-04 (13.1), 2004-05 (13.8), 2002-03 (13.9) and 2011-12 (14.4).
// Penn State has seven games with 10 or fewer turnovers this season, their most game since the 2003-04 team accomplished that nine times.
// Penn State's six turnovers at Nebraska are tied for the lowest single game total since at least1990-91. The other six-turnover games include; at Nebraska 2/2/2016; vs. Liberty 3/20/2005; vs. Kansas State 11/29/03; at Michigan State 2/9/2003; at Northwestern 2/12/1995.
// Under head coach Coquese Washington, the Lady Lions now have three seasons with five games of 10 or fewer turnovers. This year's team joins the 2007-08 and 2011-12 squads.
// Perspective: The 2014-15 squad did not have any games with 10-or-fewer turnovers. Their lowest turnover output came at Minnesota on Jan. 28, 2014 with 11.
Lineup Shuffle
// Head coach Coquese Washington has used eight different starting lineups this season.
// The most used lineup is Brianna Banks, Kaliyah Mitchell Teniya Page, Lindsey Spann and Peyton Whitted, which has been used 18 times, including in 11 of the last 12 games entering today.
// Over the last 18 games, Penn State has used just four lineups - including one on Senior Day.
// Page has started all 29 games as a true freshman, while Whitted has started 28 contests in her junior year.
// Perspective: Washington used only seven different lineups total during the 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons combined.
Triples Falling in 2016
// Penn State has connected on 141 three-pointers this season, a total that eclipses its total of 74 from the entire 2014-15 campaign.
// The Lady Lions made the 75th three pointer of the season in game No. 16 vs. Nebraska on Jan. 13.
// The 141 makes from three-point range sit No. 14 in school history with a top-10 finish in sight.
// Lindsey Spann has 60 triples this season - more than her total (37) from last season as a freshman. Her 60 triples rank tied for 13th in single season history at Penn State.
// As a team, Penn State is shooting .341 from long distance, compared to .254 last season.
// Penn State has three players with 20-plus three-pointers made after having just one player eclipse that mark in 2014-15.
Lighting Up the Scoreboard
// The Lady Lions reached 75 points in five of the first seven conference games, the first time that happened since 2002-03.
// The 2002-03 squad scored 75 points or more in five of the first seven conference games that season. Only five other Penn State teams have accomplished that in their time in the Big Ten (1992-present).
// For just the second time in program history, Penn State has had two different players score 30-plus points in a single game in the same season.
// Lindsey Spann netted 30 points at Minnesota (1/3/16) and Teniya Page scored 31 points vs. Michigan (1/17/16).
// In 1999-2000, Maren Walseth netted 35 points vs. Michigan (1/27/2000) and Lisa Shepard had 31 points vs. St. Joseph's (11/27/1999).
Injury Bug Strikes
// Junior guard Sierra Moore, junior guard Keke Sevillian and freshman guard Amari Carter will all miss the 2015-16 season due to injuries (knee).
// Moore averaged 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists, and added 15 blocked shots and 35 steals in 30 games last season.
// Carter also missed her senior year of high school due to a knee injury.
// Sevillian played in 10 games this season before suffering the injury in practice in late December.
// Senior guard Brianna Banks missed most of a four-game stretch due to a lower leg injury from Nov. 18 - Nov. 28. She came out of the Tennessee game with the injury, missed all of the next two contests and played sparingly in the BYU game.
Free Basketball
// Penn State has played two overtime games this season; vs. Holy Cross (11/13) and against Purdue (1/13), the 12th time in school history there have been multiple overtime games in one season.
// Penn State opened the season with an 86-82 overtime victory vs. Holy Cross before dropping an 88-78 decision to Purdue in double overtime.
// The Lady Lions are 1-1 in overtime this season and are 21-19 all-time when playing bonus basketball.
// Under head coach Coquese Washington, Penn State is 7-6 in overtime.
// The season opening overtime contest marked just the third time PSU opened a season with extra time.
// The Lady Lions are 2-1 all-time in season opening overtime games. The also won at Dayton, Nov. 12, 2010, but lost, 93-84, to Connecticut on Nov. 25, 1989 in a game played at Iowa.
// The overtime victory marked the first overtime victory for PSU since the Nov. 18, 2010 at Oakland (96-89). Penn State had lost three straight overtime contests.
// The double overtime game was the first for Penn State since a Nov. 12, 2010 victory at Dayton (112-107). Overall, Penn State is 3-2 in multi-overtime games.
// The double overtime contest marked the second longest game in PSU's Big Ten history, behind only a three overtime affair with Iowa on Feb. 1, 2009.
Rally in Sparta
// Penn State trailed by only five at halftime at Michigan State, but the No. 15/17 Spartans reeled off nine straight tallies to open the third period.
// Trailing 42-28 with 7:25 to play in the third quarter, Penn State began the comeback.
// Over the first 24 minutes, Michigan State was shooting 16-of-32 (.500) with 11 total turnovers. In the final 16 minutes the Spartans connected on just 9-of-26 shots (.346) and turned the ball over nine times.
// On the flip side, Penn State shot 12-of-33 (.363) with 12 turnovers in the first 24 minutes. The Blue and White connected on 15-of-25 shots (.600) with only three turnovers during the final 16 minuets.
// Brianna Banks helped get the comeback started, scoring nine points in the third quarter and 12 points overall in the second half.
// Teniya Page stepped up when the Lady Lions needed her most, as she netted eight points in the final 2:50 of the fourth quarter.
// Page's jumper with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter was the final of seven lead changes and her jumper with 20 seconds left made it a three-point game. She also grabbed the final rebound of the game to seal the win.
Fifteen Minutes of Fury
// Penn State trailed by 11 points, 35-24, with 5:11 to play in the third quarter at Illinois on Jan. 23, 2016.
// The Lady Lions connected on 12-of-16 shots (75.0%)from the field over the final 15 minutes of the game after shooting just 8-of 35 (22.8%) from the field over the first 25 minutes.
// Penn State made 10-of-13 shots from the field in the fourth quarter. The team had just 10 made field goals in the first three quarters combined.
// Six of Penn State's seven assists came during the final 15 minutes of the game.
// Teniya Page scored 13 points in the fourth quarter alone, with Lindsey Spann adding six fourth quarter tallies.
// It was a Spann three-pointer with 4:51 left in the third quarter that started the rally, the first three-pointer made of the game for Penn State.
// Over the last 15 minutes, Penn State outscored Illinois, 41-21, to earn the come-from-behind victory.
Among the B1G Best
// After one of the most productive freshman campaigns in program history, Teniya Page became just the second Penn State rookie to be unanimously selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team, joining Alex Bentley (2010).
// She also earned Second Team All-Big Ten accolades from the Big Ten coaches and honorable mention all-conference from the media.
// Her second team selection makes her just the third Penn State rookie to earn either first or second team honors at season's end, joining Maggie Lucas (2nd Team, 2011) and Kelly Mazzante (1st Team, 2001).
// The rookie was the first freshman in the country to eclipse 400-points and 100-assists this season, sitting as the only rookie to average at least 15.0 points and 4.0 assists per game in the NCAA.
// Page currently ranks among the PSU freshman leaders in points (5th, 437), scoring average (5th, 15.1), field goals made (7th, 152), three-pointers made (7th, 34), three-point percentage (4th, .420), free throws made (4th, 99), assists (7th, 118), minutes per game (1st, 37.4) and games started (T9th, 29).
Going the Distance
// Freshman Teniya Page played every minute over a four-game stretch from Jan. 30 - Feb. 11 for Penn State.
// She played 50 minutes vs. Purdue, and 40 minutes at Nebraska, vs. Rutgers and at Michigan State.
// On the season, Page has six games of at least 40 minutes this season, including playing all 50 minutes in a double overtime contest vs. Purdue on Jan. 30.
// This season, Page has played at least 38 minutes in 16 of 29 games.
// Perspective: Page's 16 games of at least 38 minutes are more than the rest of the team combined. Only four other players (12 times) have played at least 38 minutes in a game, with only three other 40-plus minute efforts.
// Page has not fouled out of a game this season, reaching four fouls in only seven times. She is averaging 2.1 fouls per game.
Page Among PSU Rookie Elite
// A stellar 29-game regular season propelled true freshman Teniya Page into some historic company among Penn State rookies.
// At Northwestern (2/17), Page become the third PSU freshman to ever score 400 points and hand out 100 assists as a rookie. She joined Suzie McConnell (415p, 321a) and Corinne Gulas (411p, 235a) on the list.
// The rookie currently ranks No. 5 on Penn State's freshman scoring list with 437 points and is No. 7 on the rookie assist charts with 118.
// Her 15.1 points per game rank No. 5 on the all-time freshman charts, trailing only Mag Strattmatter (18.4, 1974-75), Kelly Mazzante (18.2, 2000-01), Susan Robinson (18.0, 1988-89) and Maggie Lucas (15.8, 2010-11).
NCAA Rookie Ranks
// Freshman Teniya Page is having an outstanding freshman campaign for the Lady Lions and is among the top rookies in the NCAA.
// Page is the only Division I freshman to average at least 15.0 points and 4.0 assists per game this season. She sits No. 9 among rookie scorers at 15.4 ppg and No. 11 among freshman in assists with 4.0 apg.
// Her 112 assists are No. 9 nationally and make her the only rookie in the NCAA with at least 400 points and 100 assists this season.
// Of the 17 freshmen to crack the 100-assist mark, Page ranks No. 4 in fewest turnovers with 76 on the season.
Page Among Top Rookie Elite (Pt. 2)
// Page's 31 points vs. Michigan make her just the fifth freshman in school history to ever post a 30-point game.
// Page's .420 three-point shooting percentage would rank No. 4 on the freshman list and No. 9 on the single season charts (min. 50 attempts).
// Her 37.4 minutes per game are No. 3 on the career charts, and rank No. 1 on the freshman list. Her mark is nearly two minutes more than Jess Strom's 35.5 minutes per game played in her freshman season of 2001-02.
Thirty For The Freshman
// Freshman Teniya Page poured in a career-high 31 points on Jan. 17 against Michigan in the 10th Annual Pink Zone at Penn State game.
// The 31-point effort marks the first of her career and makes her just the fifth freshman in school history to eclipse the 30-point mark as a rookie.
// Page joins Jen Bednarek (1976-77), Tyra Grant (2006-07), Kelly Mazzante (2000-01) and Susan Robinson (1988-89) in the exclusive list.
// It was just the second time a Big Ten freshman eclipsed the 30-point mark on the season, with Nebraska's Jessica Shepard doing so, as well.
// Page and Lindsey Spann are just the second set of teammate to produce 30-point games in the same season. More on Page 6.
On the Right Page
// True freshman Teniya Page reached double figures in the scoring column in each of her first eight career games, a feat not accomplished by Penn State's top two career scoring leaders, Kelly Mazzante and Maggie Lucas.
// Against Michigan on Jan. 17, Page netted 31 points to become just the fifth freshman in program history to eclipse the 30-point mark in a game.
// Her six 20-point games lead the team lead.
// Page opened her career with seven straight 10-plus point, four-plus assist efforts and has 15 such efforts this season, including a 10-point, career-high eight-assist outing at Northwestern (2/17).
// Page is one of just three freshmen nationally averaging better than 37 minutes per game. Her 37:24 average is No. 3 in the B1G and is No. 14 in the NCAA.
Getting the Start - Freshman Edition
// Among the many lists that freshman Teniya Page appears on this season, she is looking to become just the ninth freshman in school history to start at least 30 games.
// Page is currently tied for No. 9 on the list, one start shy of Kahadeejah Herbert (1981-82) and Alex Bentley (2009-10), who each started 30 games during their respective rookie seasons.
// Page is also on pace to be the only Penn State player to start every game this season.
// With a victory in the Big Ten Tournament Page would move into the top-5 on the rookie stats list, giving her 10 top-5 marks on the rookie charts this season.
Page in Crunch Time
// In the fourth quarter in Penn State's six Big Ten wins, freshman Teniya Page is averaging 5.8 points per game (35 points).
// The rookie is shooting 12-of-19 from the floor (.632), including 3-of-4 from three-point range. She has also hit 8-of-11 free throws (.727).
// In her first career Big Ten game, Page scored seven points, handed out one assist and didn't turn the ball over in the fourth quarter to help the Lady Lions to a win over then-No. 14 Northwestern.
// At Michigan State, Page scored eight points in the final 2:50 of the fourth quarter - including the go-ahead jumper with 1:01 remaining - to help PSU rally from a 14-point third quarter deficit for the win.
// At Illinois, Page scored 13 fourth quarter points to help PSU complete the come-from-behind win.
// She played 57 minutes in those five games, handing out five assists to three turnovers.
// Overall in the fourth quarter of Big Ten games, Page is 29-of-76 (.382) from the field and 10-of-20 (.500) from three-point range. She also has 16 assists, seven steals and 12 turnovers in 18 games.
Leader of the Pride
// Freshman Teniya Page is looking to become just the third player in program history to lead the team in scoring and assists as a freshman.
// She looks to become the first rookie to lead the team in scoring and assists since 1979-80 when Corinne Gullas did so.
Peyton's Career Year
// Peyton Whitted entered her junior season averaging just 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. However, a summer at home working on her game has paid dividends and led to a career year for the Suwanee, Ga., native.
// Whitted has more than doubled her scoring and rebounding averages, averaging 9.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season.
// Her 234 rebounds this season rank tied for No. 30 on the single season charts with Mia Nickson (2010-11) and give her 444 career boards, which sit among the top-40 in program history.
Whitted Wiping the Glass
// Peyton Whitted enters Saturday ranked No. 9 in the Big Ten with 8.1 rebounds per game.
// She hauled in 10-plus boards in each of her first four games, making her the first player since Nikki Greene (2013) to post four straight games with at least 10 rebounds.
// Whitted pulled down 12 boards at Nebraska (2/2) to go along with 12 points for her fifth double-double of the season.
// Her sixth double-double of the season came at Northwestern (2/17) with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
// In just 28 minutes vs. No. 5/5 Maryland, Whitted hauled in 10 rebounds.
// Whitted entered 2015-16 with just one double-digit rebound game, but has nine such games this season.
// The Suwanee, Ga. native has led the team in rebounding on 17 occasions after doing that only twice total during her first two seasons on campus.
Following Her Father
// Junior Peyton Whitted is following in her father's footsteps as a collegiate basketball player. Her father, Kevin, played basketball at the University pf Tennessee.
// On Nov. 18, the junior made the most of a meeting with her father's alma mater, grabbing 16 rebounds against No. 4/5 Tennessee.
// Peyton added 17 points vs. the Vols to secure her second career double-double.
// The elder Whitted lettered for the UT men's basketball program from 1993-95, leading the team in field goal percentage twice.
White Hot Start for Whitted
// Peyton Whitted enjoyed a quick start to her junior season, setting career-highs for points (22), rebounds (16), assists (7), field goals made (8) and free throws made (6) in her first three games.
// She posted three double-doubles over her first four games this season. Her 22-point, 11-rebound effort in the season opener marked her first career double-double.
// She hauled in 10-plus boards in each of her first four games, making her the first player since Nikki Greene (2013) to post four straight games with at least 10 rebounds.
// All six of Whitted's career double-doubles have come this season; Holy Cross (22p, 11r), at Tennessee (17p, 16r), Central Connecticut State (15p, 15r), at Iowa (14p, 10r), at Nebraska (12p, 12r) and at Northwestern (14p, 12r).
// She has set career-highs in every major statistical category this season.
B1G Honors
// Junior Peyton Whitted was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll for her performance on Nov. 23, 2015 after averaging a double-double in two games.
// Whitted posted 17 points, 16 rebounds at No. 4 Tennessee, before notching her third double-double of the season with a 15-point, 15-rebound outing vs. Central Connecticut State.
Banks Earns All-B1G
// Senior Brianna Banks capped her final collegiate season by earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from both the conference coaches and media panels.
// Banks averaged a career-high 13.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game this season.
// In her only season in the blue and white, she logged 22 double-figure scoring games ââ'¬" including five 20-point efforts. She poured in 14.4 points per game in Big Ten play, and led the team with 31 steals and 11 blocked shots versus conference foes.
At Her Best As A Senior
// Brianna Banks has set career-highs in almost every major statistical category, including points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.
// Her 13.7 points per game as triple her career scoring average of 4.4 points per game entering the year.
Banks Leading the Way
// Senior Brianna Banks entered the 2015-16 season as the most experienced Lady Lion on the roster, even with sitting out a season due to NCAA Transfer Rules.
// She may not lead the team in any one specific category this season, but Banks has filled the stat sheet night in and night out for the Blue and White.
// Banks has led Penn State in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and steals this season. Below are how many times she has led the team in those categories this season;
Scoring 4
Rebounding 2
Assists 4
Blocks 4
Steals 8
Career Milestones for Bri
// Brianna Banks had amassed some solid numbers during her three seasons at Connecticut, which helped her to move past some career milestones during her only season at Penn State.
// She moved past the 700-career point mark with 16 points at Michigan State (2/11) and enters the Big Ten Tournament with 767 career tallies.
// Banks inched past the 200-rebound mark with the second of her four rebounds at Northwestern (2/17). She has 216 boards entering the meeting with Illinois.
// Banks handed out her 150th assist at Iowa on Jan. 20 and has 171 helpers through the end of the regular season.
Banks Depositing 20's
// Senior Brianna Banks is making the most of her only season on the court for the Blue and White, posting 22 double-digit scoring games in 26 tries.
// Banks reached the 10-point mark in 12 straight games from Dec. 6 - Jan. 23, before she had just eight points vs. No. 5/5 Maryland.
// She poured in 22 points and added a career-high-tying seven rebounds in a double-overtime loss to Purdue on Jan. 30.
// The Big Ten opener featured a 25-point, seven rebound, three steal effort for the Newnan, Ga. native.
// On Dec. 12 at St. Bonaventure, Banks netted a career-best 26 points on a personal-best 10 field goals.
// She made her Penn State debut on Nov. 13 vs. Holy Cross and promptly tied her then-career-high with 20 points, following that with a 22-point showing against Fordham.
// Banks has reached double figures in 22 of the 25 games she has completed, missing most of four games due to injury.
// Her five 20-point games are tied for second on the team this season (Spann). She entered the season with just one 20-point game on her resume.
Spann Finds Her Stride
// After leading the team in scoring last season as a redshirt-freshman, Lindsey Spann reached double digits just twice in her first six games.
// After her two-point performance vs. BYU, Spann reached the 10-point mark in five straight games, including a pair of 20-point efforts.
// Spann has scored 10-plus points in 18 of her last 24 games, including three 20-point efforts and one 30-point game.
// Her first 20-point effort of the season came vs. Virginia Tech on Dec. 3, pouring in 20 points before adding 23 points vs. Sacred Heart on Dec. 20.
// She reached the 20-point mark in Big Ten play for the first time in 2015-16 and third time in her career with 21 tallies against No. 6/7 Ohio State.
Long Range Lindsey
// Sophomore Lindsey Spann had quickly moved up the single season and career charts for three-point shooting at Penn State.
// Her 97 makes from three-point range are tied for No. 14 on the career charts with Dana Eikenberg (1989-92). She is just 17 shy of passing Lynn Dougherty (113, 1989-92) for 13th.
// Her 60 make from long range this season sit in a tie for No. 13 on the single season charts. She is tied with Tiffany Longworth (1995-96) and just three shy of Zhaque Gray (2010-11).
// Spann's seven three-pointers at Minnesota are the most in a single game this season for Penn State.
// She connected on at least two three-pointers in six straight games from Jan. 10 - Jan. 27, before going 0-for-3 against Purdue (1/30).
Spann Solid From The Stripe
// In two seasons, sophomore Lindsey Spann has moved her named into the discussion of the top free throw shooters in school history.
// Spann has made 113-of-144 shots from charity stripe in her career to rank No. 14 on the career free throw percentage charts at .784.
// Her .885 free throw percentage (54-of-61) on the season currently ranks No. 7 on the single season charts, tied with Susan Robinson (1989-90) who made 161-of-182 freebies.
Agee Sending It Back
// Senior Candice Agee blocked one shot vs. Iowa (2/24) to move her career total to 115 rejections.
// She trails Tori Waldner (120, 2012-15) for the No. 8 spot on the career charts.
// Her three blocks at Cal State Northridge helped her become just the 10th Lady Lion to record 100 career rejections.
// Agee has 32 career games with two-plus blocks.
// The Victorville, Calif., native enjoyed a 13-game streak with at least on blocked shot in 2014-15. She rejected shots in each game from Jan. 6 - Feb. 26, 2015.
// Agee recorded a career-high five blocks in a win over Rider on Dec. 14, 2014.
// Agee is looking to become just the 10th player in Penn State history to register 1.0 blocks per game for a career. She is currently at 0.99 bpg.
Seniors Close Home Careers in Style
// Penn State honored it's two seniors, Candice Agee and Brianna Banks on Feb. 24 vs. Iowa, and the duo didn't disappoint in their final appearance at the Bryce Jordan Center.
// A strong first half from Banks - including 11 first quarter points - helped the Lady Lions take an 18-point lead, 41-23, into halftime.
// Banks ended the night with 17 points, adding a career-high five steals in the game.
// Agee ended her Bryce Jordan Center career with a career-high-tying 21 points, marking the third time in her career she netted 21 points, doing so at home against both Seton Hall (11/22) and USF (12/21) in 2014-15.
// Agee added six rebounds, two assists and three steals to her stat line, as well.
Walk-ons Seeing Work
// Freshmen Leah Knizner and Sarah McMurtry both joined the Lady Lion program in October as walk-ons and each have seen action this season.
// Due to injuries, Knizner has been a main part of the bench for Penn State, seeing action in 19 games this season, including 15 Big Ten contests.
// McMurtry has appeared in eight games - five in B1G play - and connected on her lone points of the season with a three-pointer vs. No. 5/5 Maryland.
Freebies For Mitchell
// Junior Kaliyah Mitchell was the team's top free throw shooter last season and has continued that trend again in 2015-16.
// Mitchell currently sits No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 24 in the NCAA with a .860 free throw clip. She has connected on 74-of-86 freebies.
// Mitchell made 19 free throws in a row from the third quarter vs. Central Connecticut State to the third quarter against Youngstown State, including a 6-of-6 effort vs. BYU on Nov. 28.
// For her career, Mitchell is a .768 shooter from the charity stripe, making 206-of-268 free throws. That percentage currently sits No. 20 on the all-time list at Penn State.
Mitchell's Double Digit Streak
// After not reaching the scoring column in the season opener vs. Holy Cross, junior Kaliyah Mitchell secured double figures in each of the next five games.
// She has 15 double-figure scoring games this season after notching 12 points at Michigan (2/20) and ranks fourth on the team with 9.8 points per game.
// Mitchell led the team in scoring at USF with 18 points, just two points shy of her career-best effort.
// Mitchell posted her first double-double of the season on Tuesday, Dec. 8 against Youngstown State with 16 points and a game-high 12 boards.
// The junior added 15 points and 11 rebounds on Dec. 20 vs. Sacred Heart for her second double-double of the year.
// Her 10-point, 11-rebound effort against Purdue was her third double-double of the season and the eighth of her career.
Kaliyah Entering Career Charts
// Junior Kaliyah Mitchell has been steady in her career at Penn State, seeing action in all 91 career contests, including 51 starts.
// Her 499 rebounds are just one shy of making her the 32nd player in school history to reach the 500-rebound plateau.
// She is on pace to become just the 17th player in school history to eclipse the 300 made free throws mark, as well.
// Mitchell is also on pace to become just the 54th player in Penn State history to reach 700 points, needing just 29 more tallies.
Bucking The Trends
// Penn State kicked a couple of trends during Big Ten play, including earning its first wins of the season away from home.
// The win at Iowa on Jan. 20 was the first road win of the season for the Lady Lions, who also won the first game of 2016, snapping a five game losing streak.
// The win at Iowa was the first time Penn State led wire-to-wire in a Big Ten game since beating Minnesota, 83-53), on Jan. 26, 2014.
// Penn State won its first game in 2015-16 when being out rebounded in a game. The Lady Lions entered the game 0-9 when losing the battle of the boards.
// The Lady Lions had been 0-11 when tied or trailing on the scoreboard with 5:00 to play before rallying for the win at Illinois on Jan. 23. PSU trailed by two points, 51-49, when the clock hit 5:00 in left in the game.
// Trailing by 11 with 5:11 to play in the third quarter, Penn State rallied for the win at Illinois. It was the first double-digit deficit overcome for Penn State since rallying from the same margin (11) vs. Wichita State on March 23, 2014.
// Ironically, the last time Penn State trailed by 10-plus points before coming back to win a Big Ten contest was Jan. 9, 2014 at Illinois (down by 12 at 12:46 in 1st half). They eventually claimed an 82-76 decision.