University Park, Pa. — Penn State Lady Lion guard Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) was selected as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after averaging 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in two wins for the Lady Lions. The rookie guard is the fourth different Lady Lion (Alex Bentley, Nikki Greene, Marisa Wolfe) to win Freshman of the Week honors since the award’s inception last season.
Lucas continued her rock solid start for the Lady Lions with a pair of double-digit scoring performances last week. In the win over Oakland, she scored eight of Penn State’s final 11 points in regulation, including a reverse layup with 8.4 seconds left to tie the game at 87-87 and for overtime. The Lions overcame a 12-point second half deficit to claim the win over the Grizzlies in overtime. Lucas accounted for 13 points, three rebounds and three assists against OU. In Sunday’s win over SEC foe South Carolina, Lucas was 5-for-8 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, on the way to 14 points. She also chipped in one assist and two steals.
On the season, Lucas is third on the team and 11th in the Big Ten in scoring at a 15.3 per game clip. She is shooting 44.9% (22-49) from the field and 38.5% (10-26) from long range. The Narberth, Pa. native is sixth in the conference in three-point field goals made with a 2.5 per game average.
The Lady Lions will travel to Riviera Maya, Mexico for the Caribbean Challenge. Penn State will face Utah on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern), Wisconsin-Green Bay on Friday at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern) and Hartford on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (Eastern). All four teams in the tournament reached the postseason last year. Upon returning from Mexico, the Lady Lions will travel to Boston College of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Thurs., Dec. 2 before returning home to meet Texas Tech in the inaugural Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. 2010-11 Lady Lion Basketball Single-game tickets are available by calling 814-863-1000 or 800-NITTANY. The PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, including one for the Coaches vs. Cancer game and one for the Pink Zone game, that can be redeemed for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets in any combination.
The 2011 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State will take place on Sunday, Feb. 27 at noon as the Lady Lions take on Northwestern in the Bryce Jordan Center. The game can be seen on the Big Ten Network. Last year, the Lady Lions donated more than $80,000 for breast cancer causes. This year’s fundraising efforts will benefit the Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital. For more information on the Pink Zone at Penn State, visit the official Pink Zone website at www.gopsusports.com/pinkzone. The WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pinkzoneatpennstate.