UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's basketball team looks to make it four-straight wins Sunday afternoon when the Lady Lions host Wisconsin. Tipoff from the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 2 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG
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- 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
- Digital Program: Digital Program
OPENING TIPS
- Penn State seeks its fourth-straight win Sunday afternoon, and its fifth in the last seven games, when the Lady Lions host Wisconsin to close out a two-game homestand. Penn State's current three-game win streak is the longest active winning streak in the Big Ten.
- Penn State secured its third-straight win Thursday night with a big 85-74 victory over Nebraska. The Lady Lions took down Purdue (80-70) and Illinois (80-76) on the road last week.
- Johnasia Cash has tallied double-doubles in the last four games, averaging 22.8 ppg and 14.0 rpg in that stretch. She is the first Penn State player to notch double-doubles in four-straight games in 24 years.
- The Lady Lions are the youngest team in the Big Ten with an average age of 19.56 and eight true freshmen on the roster.
IF PENN STATE BEATS WISCONSIN
- The Lady Lions would earn their fourth-straight win and fifth in the last seven games.
- A Penn State win would mark the Lady Lions' longest winning streak against Big Ten opponents since a four-game stretch from Feb. 5-14, 2017.
- The Lady Lions would improve to 8-7 overall and 5-6 in Big Ten play.
SCOUTING THE BADGERS
- The Badgers are 4-12 overall and 1-12 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin currently sits second to last in the Big Ten standings.
- Wisconsin's lone Big Ten win of the season came against Illinois on Jan. 31 as the Badgers earned a 69-57 home victory.
- The Badgers are coming off an 84-48 loss at Maryland Thursday night.
- Sydney Hilliard leads the team with 17.2 points and 4.3 assists per game.
- Imani Lewis follows with 14.0 points and a team-best 8.6 rebounds per contest.
AGAINST WISCONSIN
- Penn State holds a 33-16 advantage in the all-time series against Wisconsin and the Lady Lions are 20-3 all-time when playing the Badgers in Happy Valley.
- The two teams will be meeting for the only time this regular season Sunday, and the first time since Jan. 4, 2020.
- Wisconsin won last season's sole meeting in Madison. The Badgers pulled away in the final four minutes to capture a 71-65 win.
- Makenna Marisa tallied 10 points and nine rebounds in that contest.
ON FIRE
- Penn State has won its last three games, and four of its last six, thanks to contriubtions from up and down the lineup.
- The Lady Lions have scored 80 or more points in each of the three wins.
- Johnasia Cash is averaging 23.0 ppg and 13.7 rpg in the three-game stretch to lead the way.
- Below are key numbers from the 3-0 stretch compared to Penn State's season-long averages:
| Statistic | Last Three Games | 2020-21 Season |
| Points per game | 81.7 | 75.4 |
| 3-pt. FG made per game | 8.3 | 7.2 |
| Assists per game | 17.0 | 13.9 |
| Turnovers per game | 9.3 | 15.8 |
| Forced turnovers per game | 16.0 | 15.4 |
| Steals per game | 9.3 | 7.6 |
| FT made per game | 16.7 | 12.6 |
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
- The Lady Lions have turned the ball over 10 times or less in each of the last three games, marking the first time since January of 2017 that Penn State has committed 10 or fewer turnovers in three-straight games.
CASH IS MONEY
- Senior transfer Johnasia Cash (previously SMU) has been on a tear as of late, recording double-doubles in six of Penn State's last seven games, including each of the last four.
- The McKeesport, Pa. native became the first Penn State player to record double-doubles in four-consecutive games since 1997 when she notched her fourth-straight against Nebraska Thursday. Angie Potthoff was the last PSU player to accomplish the feat 24 years ago.
- She went for 27 points and a career-best 19 rebounds in just 23 minutes of action against Nebraska Thursday. Her 19 rebounds were the second-most boards ever by a Lady Lion in a single conference game as a member of the Big Ten (since 1992-93).
- Cash's efficiency has improved greatly in her first year under Head Coach Carolyn Kieger. She's shooting 49.1 percent (85-for-173) from the field and was a 36.0 percent (266-for-738) shooter in her three seasons at SMU.
BEVERLEY BLOSSOMING
- Senior transfer Niya Beverley's (previously Wisconsin) steady presence on the court has been a key factor in Penn State's success as of late.
- Over the last four games, Beverley has dished 21 assists compared to just two turnovers in 147 minutes of action.
- That is a 10.5-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the last four games.
MARISA COMING INTO HER OWN
- Makenna Marisa has turned her game up a notch in her sophomore season.
- Marisa is currently averaging 14.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 4.5 apg compared to her freshman year numbers of 9.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 2.7 apg.
- Marisa has gone for 20-plus points in two of Penn State's last four games.
BACK COURT THREATS
- Sophomore Shay Hagans has set the tone defensively in Penn State's 3-0 streak, leading the team with 11 steals during that time in addition to her 9.3 ppg.
- Freshman Maddie Burke has drilled 11 three-pointers in the last three games and chipped in 9.8 ppg.
ADJUSTING WITHOUT JEKOT
- Graduate transfer Kelly Jekot suffered a season-ending injury in practice prior to the Lady Lions' Jan. 17 game against Northwestern. Jekot was the team's leader in scoring (15.9 ppg) and minutes played (34.6 mpg), and the team's second-leading rebounder (6.8 rpg).
- Jekot was relied upon as a key veteran leader for a young Penn State squad. Carolyn Kieger will rely on a committee-based approach to replace Jekot's on-court production.
YOUNGEST TEAM IN THE BIG TEN
- Penn State's 2020-21 roster features eight freshmen and four transfers who are seeing their first court time in in the Blue and White this season. The eight freshmen, all true freshmen, are tied for the national lead in number of freshmen on Division I rosters. Oral Roberts and Incarnate Word also have eight freshmen on their rosters.
- Penn State is ranked as the ninth-youngest team in Division I, and the youngest in the Big Ten, with an average age of 19.56.
- Penn State has 11 players that have two or less years of Division I playing experience, which equates to 73.3 percent of its roster.
UP NEXT
- Penn State travels to #17 Indiana for a mid-week showdown in Bloomington, Ind. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network.