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Lady Lions Set for Final Test at Pink Flamingo Championship Against No. 8/10 USC

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NASSAU, Bahamas- Penn State women's basketball is set for its first top-25 opponent of the season as it takes on no. 8/10 USC in the second game at the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship in Nassaua, Bahamas. Both teams look for their second win of the trip when they hit the court on Wednesday, Nov. 22 with a tip time of 9 p.m.
 
The Pink Flamingo Championship is a highly competitive tournament with teams that made NCAA Tournament runs last season such as Florida, Ohio State, Georgia, Purdue and East Carolina.
 
GAME INFORMATION
vs. no. 8/10 USC

  • Date: Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023 | Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: Nassau, Bahamas. | Venue: Baha Mar Convention Center
  • Live Stats | Watch: FloSports | Notes | Radio
  • Admission: Ticketed

LAST TIME OUT

  • The Lady Lions earned their fifth straight win as they downed the Cowgirls 89-80 in the first game in Nassau, Bahamas.
  • The thrilling back-and-forth contest had eight lead changes and five tie scores but Penn State prevailed.
  • Six Penn State players scored in double figures for the third time this season. Ciezki (27), Valladay (16), Brigham (14), Pinto (11), Marisa (10), Oden (10).
  • Sophomore guard Shay Ciezki's career night proved to be a key factor in the victory. Her personal best 27 points and career high-typing seven three-point buckets led the Lady Lions to their fourth performance of 80 points or more. The Buffalo, N.Y. native's five three pointers in the second half is the most of a Lady Lion since Maddie Burke made five in the first half at Iowa on February 18, 2021.
  • Valladay notched a season best 16 points off the bench while also producing massive contributions on the press with five steals, a game high. The graduate guard also grabbed three assists and two boards. 
  • Senior forward Ali Brigham notched her 30th double-digit scoring outing as a Lady Lion as well as her second double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. Her lethal attack on the inside allowed her to score in double figures four times this season, the last four straight games.
  • Chanaya Pinto shot perfect from the free throw line (7-of-7) and totaled 11 points for another multi-digit outing. Marisa also hit double figures for the fifth consecutive game and Oden gave 10 points as a sub.
  • The Lady Lions totaled 26 bench points, their fifth game producing at least that many from their depth.
  • The major factor in the game proved to be turnovers with Penn State applying tremendous pressure to force 25 OSU turnovers and converting 29 points off those errors.

LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS 

  • Makenna Marisa sits 11th in the conference in scoring average (17.8) and third in total points scored (89) behind Caitlin Clark and Laila Phelia. 
  • Shay Ciezki ranks 16th in the Big Ten, averaging 14.8 points per game. Her total of 74 points through five games sits at a rank of 13. Ciezki sits second in the Big Ten behind Caitlin Clark in made three-pointers with 16 which sits her 16th nationally.
  • The Lady Lions rank first in the conference in points scored with 450 through five games which sits them seventh nationally. 
  • Penn State's field goal percentage of 52.0% is third best in the conference and seventh best in the country along with its 45.5% from three-point range ranking them second in the Big Ten and at third in the nation. The team's 49 three pointers made is at the top of the league and seventh in the national rankings.
  • The Lady Lions also rank second in the league in assists (101), steals (50) and blocks (28).

2023-24 ACCOLADES

  • Senior+ Makenna Marisa earned a spot on the three-person Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll (11/20) after her two double digit scoring outing against Kansas with a career high 34 points and St. John's with 15 points.
  • Marisa was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List for the second consecutive season. She also earned a spot on the All-Big Ten preseason team.
  • Owusu repeats on the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award Watch List.

SCOUTING THE TROJANS

  • The Trojans are off to an undefeated, 4-0 start to their season, cracking the top-10 in the national rankings this week at no. 8/10. 
  • USC took down #7/#6 at the time Ohio State to open its season in the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team has wins over Florida Gulf Coast and Le Moyne leading into the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship.
  • The Trojans beat Seton Hall in their first game at the Pink Flamingo Championship, 64-54.
  • Rayah Marshall earned a slew of preseason awards: All-Pac-12 Preseason Team, Lisa Leslie Award Preseason Watch List, Naismith Award Watch List and Wooden Award Preseason Top-50 Watch List
  • JuJu Watkins picks up preseason accolades as well: All-Pac-12 Team, Naismith Award Watch List, Wooden Award Preseason Top-50 Watch List and two straight Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.
  • McKenzie Forbes was named to Cheryl Miller Preseason Watch List, awarded to the best forward in the country.
  • Watkins ranks 16th nationally in points, cracking 100 against Seton Hall on Monday night.

PENN STATE –USC SERIES

  • Wednesday's match up in the Bahamas will be the fifth all-time meeting between Penn State and USC with the Trojans leading the series 3-1.
  • The most recent contest dates back to December 29, 1983 when USC came away with a 79-66 win.