University Park, Pa. — Penn State Lady Lion guard Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) collected her sixth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award after averaging 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in two wins for the Lady Lions last week. With the honor, Lucas adds to her Big Ten record for Freshman of the Week accolades in a season. The Freshman of the Week award was introduced during the 2009-10 season.
Lucas had a stellar week from the field, connecting on 11-of-18 shots (61.1%) on the way to a pair of 20-point games. She opened the week with 20 points via a 5-for-10 effort from long range in the win over Minnesota Thursday. The Narbeth, Pa. native added three rebounds, three steals, a block and an assist against the Gophers. In Sunday’s win over Illinois, Lucas was 6-for-8 from three-point range on the way to a game-best 22 points. Her six three-pointers pushed her past Kelly Mazzante for first place on Penn State’s freshman season three-pointers list with 66 triples in 19 games. Lucas also tied her career high with eight rebounds against the Illini.
The freshman guard surpassed the 300-point mark for her career with her effort against the Illini and gave her 10 games with 20 or more points this season. Lucas leads the team and is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring at a 16.8 per game rate. Lucas is also third in three-point field goal percentage (.458) and first in three-pointers made (3.5). Additionally, she is second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage with an 89.4% (42-47) mark from the charity stripe. Lucas currently is fifth on Penn State’s single-season three-point field goal percentage chart (.458) and seventh in three-pointers made (66).
The Lady Lions travel to Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 20, before returning to the Jordan Center to host Indiana on Sunday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m., for a Subway Full Court 4-Pack game. 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.