GAME DAY: Penn State WBB at Cincinnati

WRIGHT BACK WHERE IT BEGAN

• Tanisha Wright was named the seventh head coach in the history of the Lady Lion basketball program on March 19, 2026 after a decorated playing career at Penn State and in the WNBA.
• A Pennsylvania native and 2005 PSU grad, Wright guided the program to back-to-back Big Ten regular season titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances from 2001-05 including trips to the Sweet 16 in 2003 and the Elite 8 in 2004.
• In all four of her seasons in Happy Valley, Penn State finished ranked in the Associated Press top 25.
• Wright was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, three-time first team All-Big Ten, three-time AP All-American honorable mention ad first time USBWA All-American.
• Upon graduating from Penn State, Wright was the no. 12 overall pick in the WNBA Draft.
• The Lady Lion spent 14 years as a player in the league, compiling five WNBA All-Defensive first team honors and two second team nods.
• Wright also spent five years in the WNBA as a coach including three seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Dream. With the Dream, she was named the 2022 AP Coach of the Year and made back-to-back playoff appearances.

NEW LIONS IN TOWN

• Coach Wright brought in seven transfers and three freshman to build her 2026-27 roster.
• Kamrah Banks was the first signee in Wright’s class, coming to Happy Valley as a four-star recruit out of high school. She set a new school record at Crispus Attucks for most points scored in a single game with 63, a record previously held by NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson.
• Petra Božan arrives at Penn State after spending two seasons playing at Nebraska. She registered 65 appearances and 19 starts for the Cornhuskers, compiling 387 points, 202 rebounds, 31 blocks, 27 assists and 27 steals. In her most recent campaign, the junior transfer averaged 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds.
• Devyn Quigley brings NCAA Tournament experience to the Lady Lions with two seasons spent playing at NC State. She played in 29 games and made six starts in her sophomore season while averaging 4.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.
• The Mountain West Freshman of the Year Skylar Durley transfers to Penn State as a sophomore. In her rookie year, she started in all 31 games and delivered 19, 10-plus-point performances and three 20-plus-point outings. Durley averaged 11.8 points on the season.
• Enjulina Gonzalez brings veteran experience to Penn State in her fifth season of eligibility. Gonzalez made stops at Georgia, Miami Ohio and Mercer throughout her collegiate career.

LAST TIME OUT

• Penn State dropped its season opener to Cleveland State on Monday night, 62-61.
• Sophomore guard Ava Black led the team with a career performance. She recorded the first double-double of her career with 17 points and 10 boards, both personal best marks. Black also posted a career high five assists.
• Junior guard Devyn Quigley put up 12 points to round out the double figure scorers.
• Sophomore guard Skylar Durley and senior forward Cristen Carter were the most efficient shooters from the field for the Lady Lions shooting at a four-of-nine and two-of-three clip respectively.
• Carter and graduate forward Savannah White each produced eight rebounds with Carter’s coming from efforts off the bench.
• Penn State outrebounded Cleveland State 45-41 and forced 15 turnovers on the vikings.
• There were 10 lead changes and six tie scores throughout the contest.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

• Kelly Mazzante, the Lady Lions’ all-time leading scorer, joins the staff as an assistant coach. Mazzante boasted multiple accolades throughout her playing career including two Big Ten Player of the Year nods and 17 Big Ten Player of the Week selections. She was the first player to earn four first team All-Big Ten honors in conference history. She was also named the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year in her senior campaign. She returns to PSU after 12 years of collegiate coaching experience to reunite with former teammate Wright, who she played alongside for three years.
• Wright added another Lady Lion Legend in Susan Robinson to her staff to serve as the Senior Director of Advancement and Strategic Relations. Robinson is one of the most accomplished Lady Lions, as the only Wade Trophy recipient in school history.
• Angie Potthoff also joins the Lady Lions as the Chief of Staff. Potthoff is a three-time AP All-American and a two-time WBCA All-American. Throughout her years in Happy Valley, she guided her team to three NCAA Tournament appearances including two trips to the Sweet 16 and a berth to the regional final in 1994.
• All four Lady Lion Legends including coach Wright have scored of 1,500 career points, combining for 8,892 points throughout their careers.

WHAT A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD MEAN

• A win over Cincinnati on Saturday would be the Lady Lions’ second win over the Bearcats in program history.
• It would also be head coach Tanisha Wright’s first win at the helm of the Lady Lions.
• A victory over the Bearcats would be the Lady Lions 1,033 win in program history.

SCOUTING CINCINNATI

• The Bearcats defeated East Texas A&M in their season opener on Wednesday, Nov. 5 by a 66-58 margin. Caliyah DeVillasee led the team in scoring with 16 points in addition to her three rebounds and two assists. Sahnya Jah followed with 12 points, four steals, three assists and two boards. As a team, the Bearcats outscored ETAMU 46-32 in the paint and did not make a single three-point shot.
• Cincinnati led the contest all but once for a brief stint in the first frame.
• The Bearcats dominated Georgetown College, 91-50, in an exhibition contest.
• Cincinnati finished the 2025-26 season with a 11-20 overall record, going 6-12 in Big 12 Conference play.
• The Bearcats were defeated by Kansas State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.
• DeVillasee returns for Cincinnati as a sophomore after receiving an All-Big 12 Freshman Team selection and two Big 12 Freshman of the Week nods throughout the previous campaign. She led the team in assists last year, averaging 3.9 per game and ranked second on the team in scoring, with 14.5 points per game.
• Reagan Jackson started in all 31 games last season and returns for her senior year. Out of the returning Bearcats, she ranked second in points per game, averaging 9.8 per contest last season.
• Jaidyn Gunter arrives at Cincinnati for her Freshman year as a four-star recruit out of McKinney, Texas. A two-time all state selection, she was ranked as the no. 85 recruit nationally and no. 8 in the state of Texas by 247 Sports.
• Freshman Zou Garba arrives as the tallest player in program history. She represented Team Benin on the international stage, including at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup

AGAINST THE BEARCATS 

• Penn State leads the all-time series against Cincinnati 1-0, winning the only meeting 82-77 in November of 2025.