UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State hits the road Thursday to take on Florida State in the 2018 edition of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Tipoff from Tallahassee, Fla. is set for 7 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG
Video: ACC Network Extra
Listen: 1390 AM and Online
Live Stats: Live Stats
Game Notes: Penn State Notes
OPENING TIPS
- Penn State hits the road for the second time this season, and the last time during non-conference play, when the Lady Lions travel to Florida State for the 2018 Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
- The Lady Lions are 4-2 on the young season, with all four of those wins captured in comeback fashion. Penn State has trailed by at least nine points in each of its four victories.
- Three Lady Lions are averaging double-digit points, led by Teniya Page's 20.0 ppg.
IF PENN STATE BEATS FLORIDA STATE
- Penn State would move to 5-2 on the season and 2-0 in road games.
- The Lady Lions would win their Big Ten/ACC Challenge game for the third-straight year and move to 6-6 all-time in Big Ten/ACC Challenge games.
- Penn State would improve to 4-1 all-time against Florida State.
SCOUTING FLORIDA STATE
- Florida state is receiving votes in the national polls and carries at 6-1 record, including a 4-1 mark at home, into Thursday's Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup.
- The Seminoles are coming off a 71-67 win over then No. 12 Iowa on Saturday in their most recent action.
- Four Seminoles are averaging double-digit points, led by Kiah Gillespie's 16.3 points per game and team-best 9.1 rebounds per contest.
- Nausia Woolfolk (12.7 ppg), Valencia Myers (12.4 ppg), and Nicki Ekhomu (11.6 ppg) are also major contributors.
- Florida State is shooting 41.4 percent (187-for-452) from the field, but just 24.8 percent (40-for-161) from three-point range.
- The Seminoles hold a +10.7 rebound edge so far this season.
AGAINST FLORIDA STATE
- Penn State and Florida State have met four times and will be squaring off for the second time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
- The teams last met on Dec. 3, 2008 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, with the Seminoles earning a 73-60 win in Tallahassee.
- Penn State won the three previous meetings, which all came during and prior to the 1990 season.
BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE HISTORY
- Penn State will be looking to win its Big Ten/ACC Challenge game for the third-straight year.
- Penn State is 4-7 all-time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge as the series enters its 12th year.
- The Lady Lions are 3-3 in Big Ten/ACC Challenge home games and 1-4 in away games.
FOCUS ON THE FREE THROW LINE
- The Lady Lions ranks third in all of Division I (as of Nov. 27) with 113 made free throws on the season.
- Penn State leads the Big Ten and ranks 19th nationally with a 78.5 (113-for-144) free throw shooting percentage.
- Sophomore Alisia Smith leads the Lady Lions with a 90.3 (28-for-31) free throw percentage.
CARDIAC KIDS
- Penn State has rallied from nine-plus point deficits in all four of its wins this season.
- Penn State erased a 14-point fourth quarter deficit by outscoring Providence 23-9 in the final 10 minutes to claim a thrilling 76-74 victory in the season opener on Nov. 8.
- It marked the first time that Penn State rallied from a 15-point deficit to win in six years. The last time the Lady Lions erased a 15-point deficit was on Nov. 24, 2012 in an 85-73 win at Cal State Northridge. Penn State trailed by 17 with 5:52 left in the first half in that game.
- Penn State put together another gutsy comeback performance at Fordham on Nov. 14. The Lady Lions trailed by 12 with 8:19 to play in the second quarter, but outscored the Rams 34-11 in the second half en route to a 72-55 victory.
- PSU trailed Princeton 48-39 with 8:28 to play in regulation on Nov. 18. Penn State used a 24-15 run to force overtime before outscoring the Tigers 16-8 in the extra frame to earn the 79-71 OT victory Sunday.
- The Lady Lions did it once again on Nov. 21 against North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks held a 64-53 lead with 4:49 to play, but Penn State closed the game on a 22-4 run to erase the 11-point deficit and come back for a 75-68 victory.
- In their most recent game, Penn State trimmed a 24-point deficit down to six against Stony Brook, but couldn't complete the comeback.
TRACKING TENIYA
- Teniya Page, a 2018 Consensus Preseason All-Big Ten Selection, has proven to be one of the strongest guards in the Big Ten from the day she stepped on campus. The guard has collected All-Big Ten accolades in each of her first three years, earning first team honors as both a sophomore and junior. Page was named a WBCA All-America honorable mention selection in 2016-17 following her standout sophomore campaign.
- Page has totaled 1,709 career points, putting her just 291 points away from hitting the 2,000-point mark. She would become the sixth Lady Lion to reach the milestone if she hits the 2,000-point mark. With 29 regular-season games scheduled and at least one postseason contest guaranteed (Big Ten Tournament), Page will need to average 13.7 points per game this season to reach the milestone. She averaged 15.3 points per game as a freshman, 19.9 as a sophomore and 18.4 as a junior.
- With 34 points against Stony Brook, Page now stands alone in second place for the most career 30-plus point games (8) in Lady Lion history. She was previously tied with Maggie Lucas (2011-14) at 7.
- The standout has already etched her names into several of Penn State's record books. Her 18.0 points per game career scoring average ranks No. 4 all-time. She is one of five Penn Staters with 1,500 career points and 300 career assists. She's averaged 35.4 minutes per game throughout her career, a mark that ranks second in the Lady Lion history books.
#BRINGTHEROAR
- Keep up with the team by following on Twitter (@PennStateWBB), Instagram (@PennStateWBB) and Facebook (Penn State Lady Lion Basketball).
UP NEXT
- Penn State returns home for its next five games, beginning with a Sunday contest against Jacksonville.
- Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. from the Bryce Jordan Center. It will be Fitness Day at the BJC and all fans are welcome to join in post-game Zumba on the court.