University Park, Pa. — Penn State Lady Lion guard Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) took home her fourth-straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week award and in the process tied the conference record for Freshman of the Week accolades in a season. She equals the mark of four freshman laurels set by Iowa’s Jaime Printy and Illinois’ Karisma Penn each claimed four awards last year. The Freshman of the Week award was introduced during the 2009-10 season.
Lucas accounted for 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals in a pair of wins for the Lady Lions last week. The rookie guard started the week by going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line en route to 20 points in a win over Army on Wednesday. She also pulled in a career-high eight rebounds to go along with four steals. With her two three-pointers, she moved into the Top 5 on Penn State’s freshman season three-pointers list, passing Jess Brungo (27; 2000-01). In Sunday’s win over Maine, Lucas was 8-for-12 from the field, including four three-pointers, en route to game-best 22 points for her fifth 20-point game of the season. She also pulled in four rebounds, dished out two assists and tallied a pair of steals against the Black Bears.
The native of Narberth, Pa., leads the team and fourth in the Big Ten in scoring at a 17.0 per game rate. Lucas is also ninth in three-point field goal percentage (.438) and first in three-pointers made (3.2). Additionally, she is second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage with a 93.8% (30-32) from the charity stripe. Lucas has five 20-point games this season, including four of her last five games. Lucas currently ranks fourth on Penn State’s freshman three-pointers list with 35 treys. She needs fourth triples to move into a tie for fourth place with Tyra Grant (39; 2006-07).
