UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's basketball team plays its final non-conference road game of the season Saturday afternoon when the Lady Lions travel to Princeton. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. from Princeton's Jadwin Gymnasium.
FOLLOW ALONG
- TV: NBC Sports Network Philadelphia and SNY
- Video: ESPN+
- Listen: Penn State Sports Network with Justin Antweil and Joe Putnam – 93.3 FM, 1390 AM and Online
- Live Stats: Live Stats
- Game Notes: Penn State Notes
OPENING TIPS
- Penn State returns from a nine-day layoff when the Lady Lions travel to Princeton Saturday afternoon.
- Penn State is 5-4 on the young season and has won its last two games, including a 78-73 win over Pittsburgh in its most recent contest on Dec. 5. Three of Penn State's wins this season have come over 2019 NCAA Tournament teams.
- Junior Kamaria McDaniel is the Big Ten's leading scorer and ranks 17th nationally with 19.9 points per game. Senior Siyeh Frazier (11.1 ppg) and freshman Makenna Marisa (10.0 ppg) are also averaging double-digit points.
IF PENN STATE BEATS PRINCETON
- Penn State would earn its fourth win this season over 2019 NCAA Tournament teams.
- Penn State would win its third-straight game and improve to 6-4 overall.
- The Lady Lions would snap Princeton's 10-game home winning streak and hand the Tigers just their second loss of the season.
LAST TIME OUT
- Junior Kamaria McDaniel recorded the third 40-point game in school history to lead the Lady Lions to a 78-73 win over Pittsburgh in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Dec. 5 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
- A strong second quarter proved to be the separation that Penn State would need as the Lady Lions outscored the Panthers 23-11 in the second frame before holding on in the final minutes for the 78-73 win.
- It marked Penn State's second-straight victory and helped the Big Ten win the Big Ten/ACC Challenge for the first time in the history of the challenge.
SCOUTING PRINCETON
- Princeton, who is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll, carries a strong 8-1 record into Saturday afternoon's matchup.
- The Tigers are out-scoring their opponents by an average of 17.7 points per game, and their only loss this season came at the hands of fellow Big Ten member Iowa. The Tigers fell 77-75 in overtime on the road against the Hawkeyes on Nov. 20.
- Bella Alarie is leading the Tigers with 15.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, but has missed the last three contests. Carlie Littlefield has chipped in 13.9 points per game, while four other Tigers are averaging seven or more points per contest.
- Princeton won the Ivy League Championship a season ago to earn an NCAA Tournament bid. The Tigers finished 2018-19 22-10 overall and 12-2 in the Ivy League.
AGAINST THE TIGERS
- Penn State and Princeton will be meeting for the second-straight year. The Lady Lions pulled out a 79-71 overtime victory on Nov. 18, 2018 at the Bryce Jordan Center in the only other meeting between the two teams.
- The Lady Lions rallied from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime against Princeton before outscoring the Tigers 16-8 in the extra frame to earn a gritty 79-71 win.
- Alisia Smith recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Siyeh Frazier chipped in 11 points.
KAMARIA McBUCKETS
- Junior Kamaria McDaniel currently leads the Big Ten and ranks 17th nationally with 19.9 points per game.
- The Inkster, Mich. native earned Big Ten Co-Player of the Week honors and a spot on the NCAA Starting Five of the Week after dropping 40 points on Pittsburgh in Penn State's most recent game on Dec. 5.
- McDaniel's 40 points marked a Penn State record in the Bryce Jordan Center and she became the first Lady Lion to put up 40-plus points in a game since former All-American Kelly Mazzante scored a school-record 49 points at Minnesota on Dec. 28, 2001. The only other Penn State player to top 40 points was Jen Bednarek, when she posted 42 points vs. Syracuse in 1979.
- McDaniel has scored in double figures in every game this season and 15-straight games dating back to last year.
STEPPING UP THEIR GAME
- Penn State's upperclassmen have stepped their game up in non-conference play as four key members have all recorded career highs in points this season.
- Kamaria McDaniel is coming off back-to-back games of tallying new career highs after she scored 27 against N.C. Central and 40 against Pittsburgh. Coming into this season, her career best was 24 points.
- Alisia Smith put up a career-high 22 points against N.C. Central, besting her previous high of 17 that was set last season.
- Siyeh Frazier scored a career-high 19 in Nov. 13's win over Fordham, while Lauren Ebo tallied a career-high 16 against Clemson on Nov. 21.
FINDING THE FREE THROW LINE
- Penn State leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh nationally in free throws made (157) and 10th in free throws attempted (221) as of Dec. 12.
- Kamaria McDaniel has found her way to the free throw line the most, attempting a team-best 61 freebies. Her 61 free throw attempts rank 20th in the nation. Freshman Makenna Marisa is shooting a team-best 82.4 percent (28-for-34) from the charity stripe.
UP NEXT
- Following a brief break for final exams, Penn State will close out the non-conference slate on Sunday, Dec. 22 against Sacred Heart.
- Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. from the Bryce Jordan Center.