Nov. 21, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" While she doesn't play with the outward exuberance of a certain Chicago basketball legend, Penn State sophomore Teniya Page (Chicago, Ill.) does play the same fearless and ferocious style. That style of play helped her average 26.0 points per game and propelled the Penn State women's basketball program to a pair of wins last week to earn her Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
Page is the first Lady Lion since to earn the Big Ten Player of the Week award since Maggie Lucas claimed the award on Jan. 28, 2014. It is her first Player of the Week honor, but second in-season honor of her career, as she earned the Big Ten Freshman of the Week last season on Jan. 4, 2016.
The Lady Lions (3-1) earned a 70-56 win against fellow NCAA blueblood program No. 13/13 Tennessee on Sunday, Nov. 20 and toppled Akron, 84-71, earlier in the week on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Page recorded back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in her career, putting together a 23-point outing vs. Akron and pouring in a game-high 29 tallies against the Lady Vols. She also averaged 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, playing an average of 37.5 minutes per game.
Versus the Lady Vols, Page put on a clinic on how to play a controlled, yet aggressive, style of basketball. She netted three 3-pointers, but used the step-back jumper and drives to the hoop to account for her second highest career scoring game. She finished 10-of-21 from the field ââ'¬" including 3-of-6 from long distance ââ'¬" and 6-of-7 from the free throw stripe.
Against the Zips, Page filled the stat sheet with game-highs of 23 points and seven assists, while logging 40 minutes on the floor. It marked the ninth time in 34 career games she went the distance on the court and was her 20th game of at least 38 minutes. She also added six rebounds and one steal.
Of her 23 points, Page poured in five first-half 3-pointers. Her five makes from distance were the most in one half since Lucas connected on six vs. Michigan State on March 9, 2013.
Up Next
Penn State hits the road for the San Juan Shootout in Daytona Beach, Fla. It will play two games in two days, beginning when the Lady Lions and Georgia State clash in a Thanksgiving Day game Thursday, Nov. 24 at 3:30 p.m. Penn State will close out the tournament on Friday, Nov. 25 against Georgetown at 1:15 p.m.