UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women's basketball returns to the Bryce Jordan Center after almost two weeks on Thursday, Feb. 15 to host Illinois. Tip off between the Lady Lions and Fighting Illini is set for 6 p.m. The game will serve as Penn State's Diversity Equity and Inclusion contest and the Lady Lions will wear specialized shirts to honor DEI throughout pregame warm ups.
Penn State is in search of a win to snap its three-game slide. Illinois will also look for a bounce-back win after a recent loss to Maryland.
GAME INFORMATION
vs Illinois
- Date: Thursday, Feb.15, 2023 | Time: 6 p.m. ET
- Location: University Park, Pa. | Venue: Bryce Jordan Center
- Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ | Notes | Radio
- Admission: Ticketed
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.
LAST TIME OUT
- Despite holding a steady advantage in the first half at as much as a 17-point lead, Penn State allowed Wisconsin to come back and take the game 69-64.
- The Lady Lions had three in double figures.
- Owusu scored 24 points, her ninth straight game surpassing the double digit mark and third game with 20 or more points. She also grabbed five rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block.
- Owusu is now just one assist shy of 500 career assists and Marisa is six away from that mark.
- Ciezki was red-hot from range in the first half, specifically the first quarter. She hit three, three pointers in under three minutes of play. The sophomore totaled 18 points with 15 of them coming from three-point range. This was Ciezki's 16th time surpassing the double digit mark this year.
- Kapinus was one rebound away from notching her third straight double-double. The Madison, Wisc. native totaled 11 points, nine boards, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Kapinus shot 4-of-9 from the field, continuing her effective shooting.
- The Lady Lions posted 12 steals and combined for 27 fastbreak points, 20 off of opponent turnovers.
LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS
- Makenna Marisa ranks 14th in the B1G in points per game and ninth in field goal percentage (47.8).
- Shay Ciezki ranks 17th in the Big Ten, averaging 14.0 points per game. Ciezki is third in the B1G and 19th nationally in made three-pointers with 64. Her 41.0 clip beyond the arc sits her third in the conference and 30th nationally and her 2.47 per game sits at fourth in the B1G and 23rd in the country.
- Leilani Kapinus is fifth in the conference in blocks per game with a 1.21 mark and first in steals (53) and steals per game (2.21).
- The Lady Lions are fifth in the country in three-point percentage and second in the B1G, shooting 39.8%. They also rank 11th nationally and third in the conference in three-pointers per game with 9.2. The team also has the fifth highest scoring offense in the country, averaging 86.0 points per game.
- Penn State ranks sixth in the nation and third in the conference in field goal percentage (49.6).
- The Lady Lions also rank second in the league in steals per game (10.1), second in blocked shots per game (4.3) and second in bench points per game (26.1).
- Penn State's defense forces 19.83 turnovers per game which is second in the B1G and 30th in the nation.
2023-24 ACCOLADES
- Ashley Owusu was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll (1/22) after averaging 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in two of Penn State's B1G wins.
- 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 FIGHTING ILLINI
- Illinois was an NCAA Tournament in 2022-23, losing in the first round to Mississippi State.
- This season, the Fighting Illini has already surpassed their lost loss total from last year at an 11-12 overall record and 5-8 Big Ten record.
- They have B1G wins over Northwestern, Minnesota and a signature win over Michigan.
- They look to bounce back from a recent loss to Maryland in Champaign, Ill.
- Illinois ranks second in the B1G in turnovers per game, only giving the ball away at a 12.0 clip which ranks it 10th in the nation. The team also sits second in the conference in free throw percentage (78.1).
- Kendall Bostic is a force for the Fighting Illini near the rim, rebounding at the second-best rate in the Big Ten. Her 229 rebounds sits her second and 10.0 per game sits her third. She also ranks 3rd in the conference in field goal percentage (61.3).
- Four players average double figures for Illinois: Makira Cook (14.4), Genesis Bryant (14.1), Kendall Bostic (11.9) and Adalia McKenzie (10.4).
PENN STATE –ILLINOIS SERIES
- Penn State leads the all-time series with the Fighting Illini 40-17.
- Illinois won the most recent match up in 2023.
- Penn State has had three 100-plus-point performances against Illinois, the most recent was Feb. 15, 2001.
- The Lady Lions are 20-4 in games played in Happy Valley and 16-4 in games played in the Bryce Jordan Center.