University Park, Pa. — The Penn State Lady Lions announced their 2010-11 non-conference schedule today. The 14-game non-conference slate features eight home games, highlighted by appearances by South Carolina and Texas Tech at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Lady Lions will take on three teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament and four squads that reached the WNIT.
"We have once again put together a competitive non-conference schedule that will help us to prepare us for the Big Ten season," Penn State head coach Coquese Washington said. "We will face several teams with postseason experience and teams that have a history of success. The Caribbean Challenge is a solid tournament with a pair of NCAA Tournament teams in Hartford and Green Bay and a WNIT squad in Utah. I’ve always enjoyed playing in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and am excited to see how our conference stacks up against the Big 12 in our newest addition to our schedule."
The Lady Lions, who will face Gannon in an exhibition game on Sun., Nov. 7, opens its season on the road at Dayton on Fri., Nov. 12. The Flyers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they lost to Tennessee. Penn State faces Rider and former Lady Lion Rashana Barnes in its home opener on Sun., Nov. 14. Barnes is currently an assistant coach with the Broncs. The Lady Lions travel to Oakland (Thurs., Nov. 18) before returning to the friendly confines of the Bryce Jordan Center to continue their series with South Carolina on Sun., Nov. 21.
Penn State will spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Riviera Maya, Mexico for the Caribbean Challenge (Thurs., Nov. 25 – Sat., Nov. 27). Joining the Lady Lions in the three-game tourney are NCAA participants Hartford and Wisconsin-Green Bay and WNIT participant Utah. The schedule for the Caribbean Challenge will be announced at a later date.
The Third Annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge will greet the Lady Lions when they return from Mexico as PSU travels to Boston College to face the Eagles on Thurs., Dec. 2. Penn State will kick off a six-game homestand to close out the non-conference season against Texas Tech in the inaugural Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge on Sun., Dec. 5. The Lady Lions face Army (Wed., Dec. 8) and Maine (Sun., Dec. 12) before taking a break for exams. Following exams, PSU hosts Delaware (Sun., Dec. 19), Drexel (Tues., Dec. 21) and Bucknell (Tues., Dec. 28) to finish non-conference competition.
Youth will prevail for the Lady Lions this season with eight freshmen and sophomores on the roster. Leading the list of returnees are sophomore All-Big Ten selection Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.). Bentley was a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman team choice a year ago and was a third team honoree by the coaches. The sophomore guard finished 10th in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.445), fourth in assists (4.03), seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.47) and 15th in steals (1.6). A Full Court Press Third Team Freshman All-American, Bentley is sixth on Penn State’s freshman season scoring list with 265 points and fifth on the Lady Lion freshman season assist chart with 125 helpers.
Senior Julia Trogele (Devon, Pa.) and sophomore Nikki Greene (Diboll, Texas) are also returning starters for the Lady Lions. Trogele led the team and was 11th in the Big Ten in rebounding (6.2). She was also fifth in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.827). Greene rejected 55 shots as a rookie, placing her ninth on Penn State’s single-season chart and second on PSU’s freshman season list. She finished second on the team and 12th in the Big Ten in rebounding (6.2 rpg).
Penn State will also be adding another highly-touted recruiting class with a pair of All-Americans in Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) and Ariel Edwards (Elmont, N.Y.). Lucas is just the second McDonald’s High School All-American in program history. She also won the McDonald’s Three-Point Shootout as part of the Powerade JamFest. Edwards had two points and two rebounds in the WBCA All-America game.
The Big Ten Conference schedule will be announced at a later date.
Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are available by calling 814-867-2557. Season tickets are $117 for adults, $52 for youth and $91 for seniors. The PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 10 vouchers that can be redeemed for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets in any combination.
The Lady Lions are on Twitter. Follow head coach Coquese Washington (@psucoachquese), sports information contact Kris Petersen (@ladylionsid) and the Lady Lions and assistant coaches (@pennstatewbb) to get the inside scoop. The Lady Lions are also on Facebook. Search Lady Lion Basketball and become a fan.
