Penn State Heads To Michigan For New Year’s Eve ShowdownPenn State Heads To Michigan For New Year’s Eve Showdown
Craig Houtz

Penn State Heads To Michigan For New Year’s Eve Showdown

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's basketball team faces its first road test of conference play Tuesday afternoon when the Lady Lions take on Michigan on New Year's Eve. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.
 
FOLLOW ALONG

 
OPENING TIPS

  • Penn State heads to Michigan for its first Big Ten road battle of the season on New Year's Eve.
  • Penn State is 6-6 overall and coming off a tough 81-74 loss to Minnesota on Saturday in the Big Ten opener. Three of Penn State's wins this season have come over 2019 NCAA Tournament teams.
  • Junior Kamaria McDaniel is the Big Ten's second-leading scorer with 19.1 points per game. Senior Siyeh Frazier (12.5 ppg) and freshman Makenna Marisa (10.6 ppg) are also averaging double-digit points.

 
IF PENN STATE BEATS MICHIGAN

  • Penn State would snap its three-game skid against the Wolverines and beat Michigan for the first time since Feb. 26, 2017.
  • The Lady Lions would pick up their first win in Ann Arbor since Jan. 21, 2013 when Penn State defeated Michigan 59-49.

 
LAST TIME OUT

  • It was a tale of two halves in the Bryce Jordan Center Saturday afternoon as Penn State found itself down by 35 points to red-hot Minnesota, but the Lady Lions put together a valiant comeback attempt that fell just short in an 81-74 conference-opening loss to the Gophers.
  • Minnesota led by as much as 35 points at 49-14 in the second quarter. Penn State out-scored the Gophers 53-27 in the second half to pull all the way back within single digits.
  • Junior Kamaria McDaniel led the way for Penn State with 31 points. Senior Siyeh Frazier chipped in a career-best 21 points to go along with nine rebounds and three assists. Freshman Makenna Marisa added 12 points, while sophomore Lauren Ebo hauled in a team-best 10 rebounds.

 
SCOUTING MICHIGAN

  • Michigan enters Tuesday's contest with a 9-3 overall record and 0-1 mark in conference play.
  • The Wolverines dropped a 70-55 road battle to the Big Ten's top-ranked team in #12/11 Maryland in Saturday's conference opener.
  • Michigan leads the Big Ten in both rebounding defense (33.3 rpg) and rebound margin (+7.2).
  • The Wolverines own a balanced offensive attack, while Naz Hillmon leading the way with 14.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
  • Kayla Robbins (12.3 ppg), Amy Dilk (10.4 ppg) and Akienreh Johnson (9.8 ppg) are also key offensive contributors.
  • Dilk leads the team with 50 assists, while Michelle Sidor has drained a team-best 13 three-pointers this season.

 
AGAINST THE WOLVERINES

  • Penn State holds a 36-16 edge in the all-time series against Michigan, but the Wolverines have won the last three contests and six of the last seven matchups.
  • Michigan pulled out a narrow 66-62 win in last season's meeting on Feb. 10, 2019 in Penn State's Play4Kay Game Benefiting Pink Zone at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State led 60-56 with 3:23 to play, but Michigan closed the game on a 10-2 run to earn the victory.
  • Teniya Page tallied a team-best 17 points. Siyeh Frazier followed with 12 points, while Amari Carter chipped in 10.

 
KAMARIA McBUCKETS

  • Junior Kamaria McDaniel is the Big Ten's second-leading scorer and averaging 19.1 points per game. That marks ranks 29th in all of Division I as of Dec. 29.
  • The Inkster, Mich. native has tallied four 20-plus point efforts this season and has scored in double figures in 11 of Penn State's 12 games.
  • She dropped the third 40-point game in program history against Pittsburgh on Dec. 5 and is coming off a 31-point performance against Minnesota in the Big Ten opener.
  • McDaniel has transformed into the team's go-to scorer after averaging 9.7 points per game a season ago as a sophomore.

 
SIYEH STUFFING THE STAT SHEET

  • Senior Siyeh Frazier has proven she can do it all this season, as the Detroit native is averaging 12.5 points per game in addition to a team-best 7.0 rebounds per contest.
  • Frazier also leads the team with 30 steals and ranks second with 35 assists.
  • The guard has notched eight double-digit scoring games while leading the team in scoring in six contests.
  • She is coming off a career night against Minnesota in Saturday's Big Ten opener as she tallied a career-best 21 points to go along with nine rebounds.

 
FINDING THE FREE THROW LINE

  • Penn State leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth nationally in free throws made (202) and 11th in free throws attempted (281) as of Dec. 29.
  • Kamaria McDaniel has found her way to the free throw line the most, attempting a team-best 78 freebies. Her 78 free throw attempts rank 15th in the nation. Freshman Makenna Marisa is shooting a team-best 82.5 percent (33-for-40) from the charity stripe.

 
UP NEXT

  • Penn State remains on the road to face Wisconsin Saturday afternoon.
  • Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network.