UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women’s basketball travels to Seattle, Wash. for the first of two games in its road stint out west. The Lady Lions (7-12, 0-8 Big Ten) will face the Huskies (14-4, 4-3 Big Ten) on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 9 p.m. ET. inside Alaska Airlines Arena. The game will be available to stream on B1G+.
GAME INFORMATION
at no. 25/25 Washington
- Date: Wednesday, January 21 2025 | Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Seattle, Wash. | Venue: Alaska Airlines Arena
- Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ | Notes | Radio
- Admission: Ticketed
LAST TIME OUT
- Penn State dropped closely contest battle to Rutgers, 76-72 on Sunday. In the contest with eight lead changes and seven tie scores, the Scarlet Knights capitalized on the Lady Lions’ miscues in the fourth quarter, allowing Rutgers to earn the victory.
- Kiyomi McMiller led the charge offensively against her former team with her second double-double of the season. The sophomore guard recorded 27 points and 11 rebounds in addition to five assists, one steal and a block.
- Gracie Merkle reached the double figure scoring mark for the ninth consecutive game with her third-straight 20-plus-point performance. Merkle posted 21 points on seven-of-11 shooting from the floor and seven-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe. She also added a pair of blocks.
- Nyla McFadden continued her effectiveness, making her third start while producing nine points on perfect four-of-four shooting from the field. She also contributed five assists, three rebounds and two steals.
- As a team, the Lady Lions outscored the Scarlet Knights 42-30 in the paint.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
- Washington is 14-4, 4-3 Big Ten. The Huskies are coming off two-straight conference wins over Minnesota and Indiana.
- Washington has a statement win over no. 6 Michigan on New Years Day, its highest ranked Big Ten win since joining the conference.
- Sayvia Sellers leads the team offensively, averaging 18.4 points per game. Avery Howell (12.8) and Elle Ladine (11.1) also average double figure scoring.
- Howell was named the USBWA Player of the Week and earned a spot on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll after posting 22 points in the Huskies’ win over no. 6 Michigan and 23 points against Northwestern.
- Sellers was named the Big Ten Player of the Week after producing 30 points against Utah. She was also tabbed an Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week for her efforts.
- Sellers and Brynn McGuaghey were selected to national watch lists ahead of the season. Sellers earned a spot on the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List and McGaughey was selected to the Tamika Catchings Award Watch List.
- Last season, Washington finished 19-14, 9-9 Big Ten. The Huskies earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament, but fell in the first round to Columbia.
PENN STATE – WASHINGTON SERIES
- Penn State leads the all-time series 3-1 against Washington.
- After winning the first three meetings from 1986-96, Washington defeated the Lady Lions in its first season in the Big Ten Conference in 2024-25.
- Prior to the meeting last season, the teams faced in 1996 in Seattle, where PSU won in overtime fashion.
- In last season’s meeting, Merkle had 11 points on perfect five-of-five shooting.
LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS
- After 19 games, Merkle ranks first in the nation in field goal percentage (74.9) and 10th in field goals (161). She is also sixth in the conference points per game (19.3).
- McMiller ranks 12th in the nation in field goals (160) and third in field goal attempts (368), ranking fifth and first across the B1G consecutively in those categories. She sits fifth in the conference in points per game (19.4).
Murray is 13th in the nation and second in the conference in three pointers (55) and