UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women’s basketball is set for its final contest in its five-game home stretch on Sunday, Nov. 17 when it hosts Monmouth. Tip time in the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 1 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
vs Monmouth
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: University Park, Pa. | Venue: Bryce Jordan Center
- Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ | Notes | Radio
- Admission: Ticketed
LAST TIME OUT
- The score of the game was 101-45, a 56-point margin of victory for the Lady Lions.
- Penn State set a new Bryce Jordan Center field goal percentage record, shooting 61.9% against Niagara. The previous record was 61.5%, achieved last season against Maryland on Jan. 24, 2024. The team also only allowed Niagara 45 points on 27.9% shooting from the field.
- The Lady Lions earned their fourth win to open the season, extending their non-conference home court winning streak to 15 games, the second longest stretch in program history.
- Penn State put up 101 points to add to its total of 372 on the season thus far.
- Every PSU player saw minutes in the game.
- Gracie Merkle put up 24 points in just 14 minutes played using 10-of-12 shooting from the field. Her outing against the Purple Eagles marks her fourth consecutive double figure scoring performance and third 20-plus-point game.
- Moriah Murray had a 17-point outing using two free throws and five three pointers. She continues her perfect percentage from the charity stripe, shooting at a 12-for-12 clip.
- Alli Campbell and Jayla Oden were responsible for 15 of Penn State’s 27 assists. Oden dished out a career high nine and Campbell recorded six passes.
- The Lady Lions forced 32 turnovers on Niagara, recording 16 steals from those miscues and combining for 36 points on the fast break.
- Jill Jekot scored her first collegiate points with seven.
- Ari Williams made her Penn State debut.
LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS
- Moriah Murray ranks fifth in the Big Ten in points per game (19.8) and third in total points (79). She sits 14th in the nation in total points, third in three pointers per game (4.75) and second in total three pointers (19). The Pennsylvania native is first in the B1G in total threes and second in threes per game.
- Merkle ranks 15th in the country in total points (78) and sixth in the conference. She also sits sixth in the conference in points per game (19.5) and fourth in total points.
- Alli Campbell is the seventh ranked leader in the country in assists (25) and 29th in assists per game (6.0).
- Penn State sits at fifth in the country in total points scored through four games (372) and 13th in points per game (93.0). It ranks second in points and third in points per game in the conference respectively.
- The Blue & White produced one of their most effective shooting outings against Niagara, leaving the team at the 12th best squad shooting from the field across the division I level, shooting at a 52.7 clip.
- The Lady Lions rank fifth in the nation in assists per game (23.0) and second in total assists (92).
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
- The Hawks are off to a tough start to their 2024-25 campaign, dropping their first four games consecutively. They have lost to Yale, Brown, George Mason and UMass most recently.
- In the 2023-24 season, Monmouth produced a 22-10 record, making a postseason run in the WNIT to the second round. The Hawks defeated Buffalo in the first round and lost to Duquesne in overtime in the second round to end their season.
- Two Hawks average double figure scoring: Taisha Exanor (13.3) and Damaris Rodriguez (11.5).
- Penn State assistant coach Sean Bair was most recently an assistant at Monmouth before arriving Happy Valley this season.=
PENN STATE – MONMOUTH SERIES
- The Lady Lions and the Hawks have only met twice in program history. The most recent meeting taking place 15 years ago in 2009.
- Penn State won both games in the series history. One in 2009 one in 1982.
2023-24 SEASON IN REVIEW
- Penn State produced its best overall record in a decade with its 22-13 season.
- The Lady Lions advanced to the Final Four of the Inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament, marking their first postseason appearance since 2017-18.
- Penn State was one of four one-seeds in the tournament after just missing a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
- The Lady Lions finished ranked sixth in the Big Ten.
- Penn State consistently ranked in the top-10 in three major statistical categories throughout the 2023-24 campaign. PSU produced one of the highest level offenses in the country with steady recognition in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and scoring offense.
- The Lady Lions had for 100-plus-point performances, 13 90-plus point games and 21 80-plus point performances.
- Penn State shattered its single game three-point record on two different occasions last season. Once against Central Connecticut on Dec. 20 with 15 three-pointers and then again when it hosted Maryland on Jan. 28 with 16.