UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Lady Lions will host their third annual basketball clinic for Special Olympic athletes, unified partners and coaches from Centre and Blair Countries on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The participants will be invited to watch the end of the Lady Lions’ practice and will then partake in a clinic from 3:30-4 p.m., followed by a chance to have pizza and get autographs from the Lady Lions. The Special Olympic athletes, unified partners and coaches will participate in various drills and activities and coaches will have an opportunity to learn additional coaching techniques.
All Special Olympics PA athletes and their families, not just those participating in Saturday’s clinic, are invited to be a guest of Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington’s for Sunday’s Penn State women’s basketball game against UMES at 2 p.m. The Centre County and Blair County basketball teams will square off in a halftime exhibition with Penn State football player Drew Astorino serving as the Master of Ceremonies for tipoff.
With the support of local companies, organizations, and individuals, the Centre County Special Olympics flourishes on gifts of time and money from volunteers and donors in the area. Several different events take place year-round including the Bowl-a-Thon in the fall, the Geri Ryan Track Meet in the spring, and the Summer Games. There are also many practices, kick-off events, and picnics, and clinics, which allow the athletes to practice their sport and bond with their fellow teammates. Furthermore, our local athletes travel around the state to compete against other county programs.
The Lady Lions have a long history of community service and have won the "small squad" CHAMPS Cup in five of the last six years. The CHAMPS Cup is awarded annually to the small squad (20 or fewer members) and large squad (20 or more members) that participate in the most community service hours.
The Lady Lions continue their homestand with their first-ever meeting with UMES on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game is a Subway Full Court 4-Pack, fans get four reserved game tickets, one voucher good for four 6-inch subs at any of seven State College Subway locations, and one voucher good for four soft drinks at the BJC, for just $40. 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. Single game tickets go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 11. 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 2012 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State will take place on Sunday, Feb. 26 as the Lady Lions take on Minnesota in the Bryce Jordan Center. Last year, the Lady Lions donated nearly $200,000 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, J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital and Lewistown 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.