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Caleb Craig

Lady Lions Host Northwestern in First Game of the New Year

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women's basketball welcomes Northwestern to the Bryce Jordan Center on Tuesday, Jan. 2 for their first game of the new year. Penn State concludes is four-game home stretch as it looks for its first conference win of the season. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
vs Northwestern

  • Date: Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2023 | Time: 6 p.m. ET
  • Location: University Park, Pa. | Venue: Bryce Jordan Center
  • Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ | Notes | Radio
  • Admission: Ticketed

LAST TIME OUT

  • Penn State hosted Michigan State in its Big Ten home opener on Saturday, Dec. 30. The Spartans came away with a 98-87 victory in a tough battle.
  • This was the highest combined scoring contest of the season for the Lady Lions with 185 points scored.
  • Graduate guard Tay Valladay notched a career high 32 points in the contest on 11-of-13 shooting. Valladay recorded perfect shooting in the first half, sinking six of her six shots from the field including one from three-point range and four three throws through the first 20 minutes. The guard from Chicago also made a career high 11 baskets from the charity stripe.
  • Four Lady Lions scored in double figures to compile 57.6% shooting from the field, a higher clip than the Spartans. Valladay had 32 points, Ciezki had 14, Brigham had 14 and Kapinus had 11. 
  • Penn State shot better from the field and from three-point range while outscoring Michigan State in the paint 56-44.
  • There were five lead changes and two tie scores in the contest.
  • The Lady Lions compiled 16 assists.
  • Penn State's strong shooting mark from the field is its seventh time shooting above 50% from the field this season and third consecutive time doing so. 

LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS 

  • Makenna Marisa sits sixth in the conference in scoring average (17.2).
  • Shay Ciezki ranks ninth in the Big Ten, averaging 16.3 points per game. Her total of 212 points through 13 games sits at a rank of nine. Ciezki is third in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in made three-pointers with 39. Her 41.5 clip beyond the arc sits her fourth in the conference.
  • Leilani Kapinus is fifth in the conference in blocks with 15.
  • The Lady Lions are first in the country in three-point percentage, shooting 42.1%. They also rank 18th nationally and third in the conference in three-pointers per game with 9.2.
  • Penn State ranks fourth in the nation and first in the conference in field goal percentage (51.4).
  • The Lady Lions rank third in the B1G in scoring average, scoring at a 88.2 clip per game. This percentage puts them for 10th nationally. 
  • The Lady Lions also rank third in the league in steals per game (10.4), second in blocked shots per game (4.7) and second in bench points per game (27.5).
  • The Lady Lions defense forces 20.31 turnovers per game which is second in the B1G and 40th in the nation.

2023-24 ACCOLADES

  • Shay Ciezki collected her first conference accolade of the season after totaling 62 points through three games including a personal best 27-point performance against Oklahoma State in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship. The Buffalo native made the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 27.
  • 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 WILDCATS

  • The WIldcats hold a 6-7, 1-1 conference record so far this season. They went 5-6 in non-conference competition. 
  • Northwestern dropped its first Big Ten game in early December to Maryland with a 71-58 final score. It won its most recent B1G contest against Rutgers using a fourth quarter comeback after trailing four three quarters. 22 points from Caileigh Walsh and 20 points from Melannie Daley lead the Wildcats to their first conference victory of the season. 
  • Three Widcats are averaging double figure points: Daley (13.5), Walsh (12.7), and Weaver (10.9).
  • Caroline Lau is second in the conference in assists with 83 and second in assists per game with 6.4 to rank her team at fourth in the Big Ten and 21st in the nation in assists per game at a 19.0 average.
  • Northwestern ranks first in the league and 13th in the country in free throw percentage, shooting from the charity stripe at a 79.1%.
  • Northwestern finished the 2022-23 season 9-21, 2-16 Big Ten and lost to Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament first round.

PENN STATE –NORTHWESTERN SERIES

  • The Lady Lions lead the all-time series with the Wildcats at a 40-12 mark.
  • Penn State owns the most recent contest in February of 2023 played in the Bryce Jordan Center. 
  • The Lady Lions are 22-4 in games against the Wildcats played at home and 18-4 in contests played in the Bryce Jordan Center after the arena became Penn Stater basketball's permanent home in 1996.
  • Penn State's fourth highest point total in a single game in program history was 114 in a win over Northwestern on Jan. 2, 2000. In that contest the Lady Lions sank their second most field goals made in a single game (45). The team recorded its most points scored in a first half with 65 which was broken in Penn State's 119-43 win over SFU when it scored 67 in the first half.
  • The Lady Lions third largest crowd in the Bryce Jordan Center came in a game played against the Wildcats on Feb. 20, 2005. 

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.