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Caleb Craig

Lady Lions Host In-State Foe Saint Francis on Sunday

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women's basketball returns to the Bryce Jordan Center for its first home game in the month of December in Happy Valley to host Saint Francis on Sunday, Dec. 17. The first game of the Lady Lions four-game home stint is set to tip off at 1 p.m. 
 
Penn State looks to bounce back from two tough road losses last week, one at West Virginia and a tight 94-84 overtime battle at no. 12 Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 10. The Red Flash also looks to rebound from consecutive losses as they also look for their second win of the season.
 
GAME INFORMATION
vs Saint Francis

  • Date: Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 | Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: University Park, Pa. | Venue: Bryce Jordan Center
  • Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ |Notes | Radio
  • Admission: Ticketed

LAST TIME OUT

  • No. 25 Penn State dropped OT battle to no. 12 Ohio State in its first conference game of the season. The final score was 94-84 after a 80-80 tie at the conclusion of regulation.
  • The Lady Lions dominated the first half of play against the Buckeyes shooting at a 58.1% clip from the field and a 77.8% mark from three-point range. After a tie score at 26-26 at the end of the first quarter, Penn State led 50-40 at the half.
  • Makenna Marisa led Penn State in scoring for the fourth time this year with her ninth double figure scoring performance of the season and 93rd of her career. She also contributed eight rebounds and three assists.
  • Sophomore guard Shay Ciezki also cracked the double digit scoring mark with 18 points, her eighth time doing so this season.
  • Ali Brigham stood tall on the defensive end, grabbing 10 boards. 

LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS 

  • Makenna Marisa sits fourth in the conference in scoring average (17.2) and fifth in total points scored (172). 
  • Shay Ciezki ranks 15th in the Big Ten, averaging 14.3 points per game. Her total of 143 points through 10 games sits at a rank of 13. Ciezki is fourth in the Big Ten in made three-pointers with 26.
  • Leilani Kapinus is fourth in the conference in blocks with 14.
  • The Lady Lions rank second in scoring average, scoring at a 83.9 clip per game. This percentage ties them for 20th nationally. Their 49.8 field goal percentage is in the top-10 in the country and second third in the Big Ten.
  • Penn State's three-point percentage of 41.6% ranks it first in the Big Ten and third in the nation. The team's 89 three pointers made is third in the league.
  • The Lady Lions also rank third in the league in steals per game (10.3), second in total blocks (49) and blocked shots per game (4.9) and second in bench points per game (27.6).

2023-24 ACCOLADES

  • Marisa earned a spot on the three-person Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll (11/20) after her to double digit scoring outings against Kansas (34 points) and St. John's (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 RED FLASH

  • St. Francis is off to a rough start in the 2023-24 campaign, only winning one game and losing nine, its only winning coming against Morgan State. The Red Flash have lost their most recent two contests including a 68-41 loss just two days prior to their clash with the Lady Lions on Friday, Dec. 15.
  • Kendall Carruthers leads the team in scoring with 119 total points and averaging 11.9 points per game. Kaitlyn Maxwell joins her teammate averaging double figures with a 10.3 points per game mark. 
  • Carruthers shoots the three at a 34.1 clip and Maxwell shoots a 58.3 percentage beyond the arc. Maxwell also leads the team in field goal percentage (40.7).
  • Marina Artero leads the defense with 5.1 rebounds per game and 51 total.
  • St. Francis scores most of its points in the fourth quarter, totaling 150 on the season in the final stanza.

PENN STATE –SAINT FRANCIS SERIES

  • The Lady Lions lead the all-time series with the Red Flash is 7-1 with the Lady Lions in the lead. 
  • The most recent meeting occurred on November 30, 2020 with Penn State walking away with a 87-54 victory. 
  • The first contest between the two teams was in 1994.
  • The Lady Lions own two, 100-plus-point wins over the Red Flash: 101-62 on 12/2/99 and 117-77 on 11/8/13, both played in the Bryce Jordan Center. 
  • Penn State is 5-0 in games played in Happy Valley against St. Francis. 
  • The Lady Lions' 117-point performance in 2013 is their second largest point total in program history, fifth largest field goals made outing with 39, third highest three-point field goals made with 13 and highest number of free throws made and attempted with a 37-of-43 margin.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

  • PARKING: Parking for all athletic events requires a valid university permit or payment of an applicable parking fee. Parking can be purchased in advance by 11:59 p.m. the day prior to each game using Prepaid ParkMobile for $5.50, or can be purchased on game day for $10. Parking for men's basketball can be found at Jordan East, Stadium West, or Porter North lots.
  • MOBILE TICKETING: All Penn State Athletics tickets are once again mobile tickets.  Fans can access Penn State Athletics mobile ticket guide at GoPSUsports.com/mobiletickets. Make sure to have the updated Penn State Athletics App downloaded on your phone to easily access and manage your mobile tickets. Download the app on the App Storeand Google Play.
  • CLEAR BAG POLICY: The Bryce Jordan Center has a clear bag policy. Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVB and are 12" x 6" x 12" or smaller are permitted. Small clutches or wristlets that are 4" x 6" x 1" are also permissible, as well as one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags. All clear bags and patrons are subject to metal detection and/or bag inspection upon entering the venue. Bag policy details can be found here.