Women’s Basketball Travels to State Farm WBCA ShowcaseWomen’s Basketball Travels to State Farm WBCA Showcase
Mark Selders

Women’s Basketball Travels to State Farm WBCA Showcase

Lady Lions take on Marshall in first game of the tournament on Thursday, Nov. 21

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women’s basketball set for two-game tournament at the State Farm WBCA Showcase in Orlando, Fla. at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Headquarters. The Lady Lions will face Marshall on Thursday, Nov. 21 and Georgia on Saturday, Nov. 23. Tip time in the State Farm Fieldhouse is set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

GAME INFORMATION

vs Marshall

  • Date: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Orlando, Fla. | Venue: State Farm Fieldhouse
  • Live Stats | Watch: Peacock | Notes | Radio
  • Admission: Ticketed

LAST TIME OUT

  • The Lady Lions notched their second consecutive 100-plus-point outing with a 100-55 victory over Monmouth.
  • Penn State jumped in front early and never conceded the lead.
  • The win marks the Lady Lions’ 16th consecutive non-conference victory at home, tied for the first longest unbeaten home stretch in program history.
  • Moriah Murray led the team in scoring with 23 points, her second 20-plus-point performance of the year. Of the 23 points, 21 came from three pointers and the other two came from two perfect free throws. She remains unblemished at the charity stripe this season, shooting a perfect 14-of-14.
  • Gracie Merkle recorded her second double-double of the season using 20 points and 12 rebounds. She is the only Lady Lion to cross the double-digit mark in all five games this season.
  • Talayah Walker posted a collegiate best 18 points and was the most efficient player on the court with the highest plus minus on the team, 26. She also recorded seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Her 18 points against Monmouth succeeding her 12 against Niagara mark her first back-to-back double figure scoring performances.
  • Penn State produced 22 assists, the fifth game of five the team has put forth 20-or-more.
  • The Lady Lions forced 28 turnovers and converted 35 points from those miscues.
  • The margin of victory was 45 points, Penn State’s second-straight margin of 45 or more coming in back-to-back 100-point outings.

LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS

  • Moriah Murray ranks fourth in the Big Ten in points per game (20.4) and second in total points (102). She sits 13th in the nation in total points, first in three pointers per game (5.2) and is tied for first in total three pointers (26). The Pennsylvania native is first in the B1G in total threes and first in threes per game. Murray is also one of 29 players to remain perfect from the free throw line this season.
  • Merkle ranks 16th in the country in total points (98) and third in the conference. She also sits sixth in the conference in points per game (19.6).
  • Alli Campbell is ranked 24th in the country in assists (25).
  • Penn State leads the nation in total assists (114) and sits fourth in assists per game (22.8). The team is tied for first in the conference in total assists and ranks third in assists per game.
  • The Blue & White produced one of their most effective back-to-back shooting outings against Niagara and Monmouth, leaving the team ranked eighth in the country in shooting percentage from the field and second in the Big Ten.
  • The Lady Lions also have the ninth-best scoring offense across the country, averaging 94.4 points per contest.

SCOUTING THE HERD

  • The Herd are off to a 1-3 start in the 2024-25 campaign. They have dropped games to Toledo, Northern Kentucky and George Mason and own a win against Elon.
  • Last season, Marshall produced a 26-7 record overall and 17-1 in conference margin, only losing to James Madison during the regular season.
  • After they defeated JMU in the Sun Belt Championship, the Herd earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Marshall lost to no. 4 seeded Virginia Tech in the first round of the tournament to conclude its season.
  • Two players average double-digit scoring for Marshall: Aislynn Hayes (17.8) and Meredith Maier (14.3).
  • The Herd lost their top two leading scorers from last campaign but retained Hayes, who was the third leading scorer on the team.

PENN STATE – MARSHALL SERIES

  • Penn State and Marshall have only faced twice in the programs’ histories in a home and away series in 2016 and 2017.
  • The Lady Lions own the series 2-0.

2023-24 SEASON IN REVIEW

  • Penn State produced its best overall record in a decade with its 22-13 season.
  • The Lady Lions advanced to the Final Four of the Inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament, marking their first postseason appearance since 2017-18.
  • Penn State was one of four one-seeds in the tournament after just missing a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
  • The Lady Lions finished ranked sixth in the Big Ten.
  • Penn State consistently ranked in the top-10 in three major statistical categories throughout the 2023-24 campaign. PSU produced one of the highest level offenses in the country with steady recognition in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and scoring offense.
  • The Lady Lions had for 100-plus-point performances, 13 90-plus point games and 21 80-plus point performances.
  • Penn State shattered its single game three-point record on two different occasions last season. Once against Central Connecticut on Dec. 20 with 15 three-pointers and then again when it hosted Maryland on Jan. 28 with 16.