Lady Lions Host 20th Annual Pink ZoneLady Lions Host 20th Annual Pink Zone
Mark Selders

Lady Lions Host 20th Annual Pink Zone

Penn State women’s basketball welcomes Northwestern on Sunday

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women’s basketball will host Northwestern in 20th annual Pink Zone game. The Lady Lions (8-17, 1-13 Big Ten) will take on the Wildcats (8-16, 2-11 Big Ten) on Sunday, Feb. 15. Tip time inside Rec Hall is slated for 4 p.m. with national coverage on the Big Ten Network.

Penn State celebrates its 20th annual Pink Zone on Sunday. Throughout the 20 years of existence, the PA Pink Zone has honored over 5,200 survivors and raised over raised $3.2 million in the fight against breast cancer since 2017.

GAME INFORMATION

vs. Northwestern

LAST TIME OUT

  • Penn State fell to no. 20/17 Maryland on the road in College Park on Thursday. Despite a first quarter lead, the Terrapins outscored the Lady Lions in each of the next three quarters to finalize an 81-62 victory.
  • Kiyomi McMiller produced her third-straight 30-plus-point outing with 30 points on 12-of-26 shooting from the floor. The sophomore guard also recorded three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.
  • Gracie Merkle was the only other Lady Lion to reach the double-digit point threshold. She recorded 13 points on six-of-eight shooting from the field. The redshirt junior center also led the team with seven rebounds and two blocks.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

  • Northwestern is 8-16, 2-11 this season. The Wildcats own Big Ten wins over Rutgers and Wisconsin.
  • Northwestern is on a six-game slide dating back to Jan. 18.
  • Grace Sullivan leads the team on offense, averaging 22.2 points per game which ranks third in the Big Ten. Casey Harter is the only other Wildcat to average double-digit points with 10.1 per game.
  • Sullivan surpassed the 1,000 career point mark against Nebraska.
  • Last season, Northwestern finished 9-18, 2-16 Big Ten. The Wildcats did not make the conference tournament.

PENN STATE – NORTHWESTERN SERIES

  • Penn State leads the all-time series by a 42-13 margin.
  • Northwestern owns wins in six of the most recent 10 contests including a win last season.
  • In last year’s meeting, Gracie Merkle produced a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. She shot six-of-10 from the floor in the outing.
  • Penn State is 23-4 in games against Northwestern played in Happy Valley.

LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS

  • Merkle ranks first in the nation in field goal percentage (74.6) and 21st in field goals (182). She is also sixth in the conference points per game (19.0).
  • McMiller ranks sixth in the nation in field goals (218) and third in field goal attempts (497), ranking second and first across the B1G consecutively in those categories. She sits fourth in the conference in points per game (20.6).
  • Murray is third in the Big Ten in three pointers per game (2.60) and third in three pointers (65).