UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women’s basketball returns to Happy Valley to host no. 23/22 Iowa in its first game of 2025 and third Big Ten game of the season. The Lady Lions look to bounce back from a tough road loss at Minnesota in their New Year’s Day game. Tip time in the Bryce Jordan Center is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
GAME INFORMATION
vs no. 23/22 Iowa
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 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
- Penn State lost a tough road contest at Minnesota following a long, 13-day break in action. The Golden Gophers jumped out to an early lead that the Lady Lions could not overcome. The final score was 90-54 in favor of the Minnesota.
- Gabby Elliott was the lone PSU player to reach double figure scoring, totaling 19 points, nine of which came from beyond the arc.
- Gracie Merkle, Penn State’s leading scorer, was held from scoring in the contest but she managed four rebounds and three blocks on the defensive end.
- The Lady Lions’ bench contributed 19 points.
LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS
- Merkle ranks 34th in the country in total points (244) and fourth in the conference. She also sits fifth in the B1G in points per game (18.8). Merkle is 17th in the nation in field goals made (101) and sixth in field goal percentage (66.4). Her seven double-doubles ranks her 10th in the country and third in the Big Ten.
- Moriah Murray sits 19th in the Big Ten in points per game (14.0) and 19th in total points (182). She is seventh in the country in three pointers (44) and seventh in three pointers per game per game (3.38).
- Alli Campbell is ranked fifth in the conference in assists (60).
- Penn State is 18th in the nation in total assists (244) and sits 15th in assists per game (18.8). The team is third in the conference in total assists and ranks second in assists per game.
- The team ranks 19th in the country in shooting percentage from the field (48.2) and third in the Big Ten.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
- Iowa is 11-2 overall 1-1 Big Ten so far throughout the 2024-25 campaign despite losing its two-time National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark. After being unranked to begin the season, the Hawkeyes have climbed their way to no. 23 in the polls.
- The Hawkeyes have a split record in conference play, losing to Michigan State on the road and returning home to defeat Purdue handily in their most recent outing.
- Lucy Olsen leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game followed by Hannah Stuelke averaging 13.6 and Addison O’Grady averaging 13.3. Penn State faced Lucy Olsen in the WBIT Final Four last season when she played for Villanova.
- The 2024 Big Ten Tournament Champions have the 21st best field goal shooting at a 48.1 percentage. O’Grady leads the team i that category, shooting 67.3% from the field to lead the Big Ten.
PENN STATE – IOWA SERIES
- The all-time series between Penn State and Iowa is tied at 29-29 with Iowa victorious in the most recent 10 games.
- The Lady Lions are 16-10 in games played at home.
- The first sellout ever in PSU women’s basketball history was a contest inside Rec Hall on Feb. 6 1994 when the Lady Lions hosted no. 8 Iowa. PSU earned a 63-61 victory. This game also holds the all-time attendance record inside Rec Hall.