Lady Lions Host No. 4 UCLA on New Years EveLady Lions Host No. 4 UCLA on New Years Eve

Lady Lions Host No. 4 UCLA on New Years Eve

Penn State women’s basketball set for second consecutive ranked contest

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women’s basketball returns to Happy Valley to welcome no. 4 UCLA to Rec Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 31. The New Years Eve tilt is slated to begin at 2 p.m. with coverage on Peacock.

The Lady Lions are in search of their first win over a top five opponent in over 20 years while UCLA looks for its 13th win of the season on Wednesday.

GAME INFORMATION

vs. no. 4 UCLA

LAST TIME OUT

  • Penn State lost to no. 14 Iowa, 99-76 on Sunday in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes built an early lead using a 16-0 run in the first quarter. Despite comeback efforts from the Lady Lions to pull within 16 in the fourth quarter, Iowa prevailed to secure the victory.
  • Téa Cléante and Gracie Merkle recorded double-digit scoring outings for the third consecutive contest. Cléante added a team high 21 points including nine from beyond the arc to go with three assists and two steals. Merkle posted her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points on eight-of-10 shooting from the field in addition to 11 rebounds grabbed.
  • Kiyomi McMiller rounded out the trio of double figure scorers for the Lady Lions with 20 points.
  • Penn State outshot Iowa from the floor, recording 50.8 shooting from the field.
  • The Lady Lions posted 21 assists, marking the seventh time this season the squad had produced 20-plus-assists.

SCOUTING THE BRUINS

  • UCLA is 12-1, 2-0 Big Ten with its most recent win coming over Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 28. The Bruins only loss is to no. 4 Texas at the Players Era Women’s Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada in November.
  • Ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, the Bruins were picked to finish first in the Big Ten after winning the conference tournament championship last season.
  • Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice were unanimously selected to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Betts also earned a spot on the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year, Wade Trophy and Wooden Award Preseason Watch Lists. Rice, Gianna Kneepkens and Sienna Betts were also named to the Wooden Award Watch List with Betts.
  • The Bruins sit in the top 15 in the nation in several statistical categories including second in rebound margin (16.3), fourth in assists per game (21.8), seventh in assist to turnover ratio (1.80), eighth in field goal percentage (50.7), 13th in scoring offense (87.2), 14th in rebounds per game (44.85) and 15th in scoring margin (30.4).
  • Last season UCLA finished with a 34-3, 16-2 record. After winning the Big Ten Tournament Championship, the Bruins made a run to the Final Four where they fell to eventual national champion UConn.

PENN STATE – UCLA SERIES

  • UCLA leads the all-time series 3-1.
  • Before the meeting last season, the teams had not faced since 1983.
  • This will be the first matchup between the squads played at PSU’s home court.
  • In last season’s meeting, Gabby Elliott and Talayah Walker led the Lady Lions with 17 points each. Alli Campbell also produced a double-digit scoring outing with 12 points. The 2024-25 contest was played in Walter Pyramid in Long Beach Calif. due to the wildfires occurring in the greater Los Angeles area at the time of the game.

LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS

  • Merkle finished the 2024-25 campaign ranked third in the nation and first in the conference in field goal percentage (.670). Among power 4 players, she ranked first in field goal percentage, 15th in double-doubles (13), 20th in rebounds per game (8.6) and 23rd in blocks per game.
  • Moriah Murray sat 21st in the nation in three pointers per game (2.63) and second in the B1G in 2024-25.
  • As a team, the Lady Lions ranked 14th in the nation in assists per game (17.7) and fifth in the Big Ten last season.
  • After 12 games, Merkle ranks first in the nation in field goal percentage (73.9) and fifth in field goals (116). She is also 24th in the country and third in the conference points per game (19.7).
  • McMiller ranks 13th in the nation in field goals (104) and third in field goal attempts (247), ranking fourth and first across the B1G consecutively in those categories.
  • Murray is first in the conference in three pointers per game (2.92) and in total three-pointers (38).