UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women’s basketball welcomes the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to Happy Valley on Sunday, Jan. 18. The Lady Lions (7-11, 0-7 Big Ten) and the Scarlet Knights (8-9, 0-6 Big Ten) are scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. at the historic Rec Hall with coverage on B1G+.
Both Penn State and Rutgers are in search of their first conference win of the season and to snap a losing streak of seven and five games, respectively.
GAME INFORMATION
vs. Rutgers
- Date: Sunday, January 18 2025 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: University Park, Pa. | Venue: Rec Hall
- Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ | Notes | Radio
- Admission: Ticketed
LAST TIME OUT
- The Lady Lions dropped their last game to No. 14/15 Ohio State, 108-84, on Wednesday at Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes built an early lead in the first few minutes. Penn State battled back from a 14-point deficit to bring the score within five after the first quarter. Despite a close second frame, the Buckeyes came out of halftime and ballooned their lead by as many as 22 to seal the victory.
- Three Lady Lions had 20-plus-points performances. Moriah Murray led the team in scoring with 25 points, notching eight three-pointers and a free-throw. Gracie Merkle earned her 38th double-double of her career, adding 21 points, one block and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, Kiyomi McMiller posted 20 points and seven assists.
- Téa Cléante put up 10 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal.
- As a team, PSU out-rebounded OSU 40-37.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
- Rutgers is 8-9, 0-6 Big Ten this season. After falling to Northwestern Sunday, despite having a lead in the first quarter, the Scarlet Knights look to get their first big ten conference win of the season in the contest against the Lady Lions.
- Nene Ndiaye, who transferred to the team from Boston College, leads the squad on offense, averaging 14.7 points per game which ranks 17th in the Big Ten. She has started all games she played for the Scarlet Knights this season.
- Kaylah Ivey leads the Scarlet Knights in threes (27), followed by Ndiaye. She also averages the most minutes on court (34.4).
- The Scarlet Knights made changes with staff and players this past offseason. Head coach Coquese Washington welcome four new coaches, six transfers and three freshmen.
- As a team, Rutgers ranks last in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (35.7) and three-point percentage (28.4), 16th in free throw percentage (67.1), eighth in rebounds (38.4) and blocks (4.0) and ninth in steals (8.8).
- Last season, Rutgers finished 13-20, 3-15 Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights tallied 1-10 away and 12-9 at home game records.
PENN STATE – RUTGERS SERIES
- Rutgers leads the all-time series against the Nittany Lions 36-22.
- Penn State is 14-9 in games played in Happy Valley against the Scarlet Knights.
- Penn State dropped its last two matchups against Rutgers, 75-70 and 77-73, respectively, in the 2024-25 season. The previous season, the Lady Lions won their contest, 94-80.
LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS
- After 18 games, Merkle ranks first in the nation in field goal percentage (75.5) and 10th in field goals (154). She is also fourth in the conference points per game (19.2).
- McMiller ranks 13th in the nation in field goals (148) and second in field goal attempts (346), ranking fifth and first across the B1G consecutively in those categories. She sits sixth in the conference in points per game (18.9).
- Murray is 11th in the nation and second in the conference in three pointers (54) and 12th in the country and first in the B1G in three pointers per game (3.00).