UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's basketball team tips off the 2019-20 season Tuesday afternoon when the Lady Lions travel to Towson. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. from Towson's SECU Arena.
FOLLOW ALONG
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OPENING TIPS
- Penn State officially kicks off the season Tuesday afternoon when the Lady Lions travel to Towson for the 2019-20 season opener.
- The Lady Lions return three of their top five scorers from a season ago, led by senior Siyeh Frazier who averaged 9.9 points per game in 2018-19.
- Head coach Carolyn Kieger enters her first season at the helm of the Lady Lions. Kieger came to Penn State in April after five years at the helm of her alma mater, Marquette.
IF PENN STATE BEATS TOWSON
- Head Coach Carolyn Kieger would earn her 100th career head coaching victory and first win as the head coach of Penn State.
- Penn State would improve to 43-13 all-time in season openers. The Lady Lions have won 12 of their last 13 season-opening contests.
- Penn State would move to 2-1 all-time against the Tigers.
SCOUTING TOWSON
- Towson is coming off a strong 2018-19 campaign that saw the Tigers go 20-13 overall and 11-7 in conference action.
- The Tigers won the CAA Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
- Towson was selected to finish third in this year's CAA Preseason Poll, its highest preseason pick since joining the conference.
- Kionna Jeter and Nukiya Mayo were both selected as CAA Preseason All-Conference honorees.
- Jeter led the Tigers and the conference in scoring with 17.3 points per game a season ago. Jeter also paced the league in steals per game with an average of 2.7.
- Mayo averaged 14.3 points per game and led the team in rebounding average with 7.6 per game.
- Jeter and Mayo were the highest-scoring duo in the CAA last season, averaging a combined 31.6 points per game.
AGAINST THE TIGERS
- Penn State and Towson will be meeting for just the third time in program history.
- The Lady Lions earned a 71-64 win over the Tigers on Nov. 14, 2014 in the 2014 Preseason WNIT inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
- The only other previous meeting came back in 1975 in the EAIAW Mid-Atlantic Tournament.
EXHIBITION GAME WIN
- Penn State took down Kutztown 64-44 in an exhibition tune-up Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.
- Penn State recorded 16 steals and forced 32 Kutztown turnovers. Freshman Shay Hagans led the way with a team-best four steals.
- Junior Kamaria McDaniel recorded a double-double with squad-high marks of 25 points and 10 rebounds.
A NEW ERA BEGINS
- Penn State will enter its first season under head coach Carolyn Kieger in 2019-20. Kieger, a 2019 Naismith Women's Coach of the Year Award semifinalist, guided Marquette University to the top of the Big East Conference and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances as the Golden Eagles' head coach.
- Kieger, a 2006 Marquette graduate, comes to Happy Valley after five years at the helm of her alma mater, posting a 99-64 overall record. During the past three seasons, Kieger led the Golden Eagles to sparkling 76-26 mark (43-11 in Big East), which included a pair of Big East regular-season championships and a Big East Tournament Championship. Marquette made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in 20 years, advancing to the round of 32 the past two seasons.
KEEP IT 100
- Head coach Carolyn Kieger's first win at Penn State will mark her 100th career head coaching victory.
- She comes to Happy Valley with a 99-64 overall head coaching record.
SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS
- Penn State has a successful history in season openers, holding an all-time record of 42-13.
- The Lady Lions have won 12 of their last 13 season-opening contests.
- Penn State will be opening the season on the road for just the second time in the last nine years. The Lady Lions' lone loss in season openers in the last 13 years came on the road at Drexel (60-83) in the 2016-17 opener.
UP NEXT
- Penn State makes its home debut Sunday afternoon when the Lady Lions welcome Rider.
- Tipoff from the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 2 p.m.
- It will be Military Appreciation Day and special ticket rates are available for current and former military members, family and friends.