Nov. 26, 2010
Photo Gallery from the Caribbean Challenge
RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO - The Penn State Lady Lions (5-1) shot 51.3% (20-39) from field in the second half, but could not overcome 29 turnovers in a 79-74 loss to RV/#23 Wisconsin-Green Bay (5-0) in the Caribbean Challenge on Friday afternoon. The Lady Lions will close out their trip to Mexico on Saturday against Hartford (1-5) at 3:30 p.m. (Eastern). The game can be heard on WRSC in State College or on All-Access on GoPSUsports.com.
Junior guard Zhaque Gray (Chicago, Ill.) was 5-for-8 from three-point range en route to a team-high 17 points. She also had three rebounds and two assists on the day. Sophomore point guard Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) narrowly missed her first career double-double with 16 points and nine assists to go along with four steals. Freshman guard Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) came off of the bench to score 11 points, including eight in the final two minutes of the game.
The Lions took the first lead of the game at 2-0 with a layup by Nikki Greene (Diboll, Texas) on the first possession, but the Phoenix responded with a free throw and a three-pointer to take a 4-2 lead. Penn State would score four the game's next six points to even the score at 6-6 by the first media timeout. Plagued by turnovers, the Lady Lions fell behind 14-6 with 14 minutes left in the opening half. Senior Julia Trogele (Devon, Pa.) notched a steal and a layup to cut into the lead and following a free throw by Green Bay, Gray connected on a jumper to make it a five-point game at 15-10 with 12:31 remaining.
The Phoenix scored four of the game's next seven points to establish a 19-13 lead, but Penn State fought back with consecutive scores by Trogele to make it a 19-17 game with less than six minutes to play in the half. However, Wisconsin-Green Bay finished the opening frame with a 12-5 run to head into the break with a 31-22 lead.
In a very sloppy half, Penn State turned the ball over 18 times, while the Phoenix committed 14 turnovers. Trogele led Penn State with six points and three steals, while Gray added five points and two rebounds.
Penn State came out strong in the second half with a 9-2 run that included two buckets by Greene, a three by Gray and a layup by Bentley to cut the Green Bay lead to two points at 33-31 with less than 16 minutes to play. However, the Phoenix went on a 14-2 run to extend their lead to 47-33 with 10:36 left. The Lady Lions fought back with a pair of three-pointers by Gray, a triple by Bentley and a bucket by Ariel Edwards (Elmont, N.Y.) to score the game's next 11 points to make it one possession game at 47-44 with 11 minutes remaining.
Wisconsin-Green Bay responded with a 17-5 run to establish a 64-49 lead with eight minutes to play. The Lady Lions bounced back with a 10-1 run, led by seven points by Bentley, to cut the deficit to six points at 65-59 with 4:02 remaining. The squads swapped the next two scoring opportunities before Green Bay tallied back-to-back baskets to stretch the lead to eight (69-61) with 2:44 on the clock. Following scores by each team, Penn State continued to fight with a trio of three-pointers and a tip-in by Marisa Wolfe (Ford City, Pa.), but the Phoenix made all eight of their free throws in the final minute to secure the 79-74 win.
GAME NOTES: Senior guard/forward Julia Trogele had a career-high six steals ... Sophomore Alex Bentley tied her career high with nine assists, it is the third time in her career with nine helpers in a game ... Sophomore Marisa Wolfe surpassed the 100-rebound mark for her career ... The Lady Lions' 29 turnovers are the most since committing 29 turnovers against Florida State on Dec. 3, 2008 ... Penn State is now 4-1 all-time against Horizon League teams.
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.
The Lady Lions are on Twitter. Follow sports information contact Kris Petersen (@ladylionsid) and the Lady Lions and coaches (@pennstatewbb) to get the inside scoop. The Lady Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstateladylions.