Lady Lions announce Big Ten schedule

Lady Lions announce Big Ten schedule

Credit: Penn State Sports Information Sophomore guard Alex Bentley

University Park, Pa. — The Penn State women's basketball team announced its 2010-11 Big Ten Conference schedule Friday (Aug. 27). The Lady Lions kick off their 16-game Big Ten slate at the Bryce Jordan Center against Iowa on Thurs., Dec. 30. Penn State will also host Fifth Annual WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State on Sun., Feb. 27 against Northwestern. The Lady Lions have raised more than $165,000 in the fight against breast cancer through its first four Pink Zone events.

The Lady Lions will once again play their traditional Thursday-Sunday conference. With a return to a 16-game Big Ten schedule, Penn State will face six Big Ten foes twice and will only square off once each against Michigan State and Minnesota (home only) and Michigan and Wisconsin (away only).

Penn State opens the Big Ten schedule in the friendly confines of the Bryce Jordan Center against Iowa on Thurs., Dec. 30 before traveling to Wisconsin on Sun., Jan. 2 and Northwestern on Thurs., Jan. 6. The Northwestern game will be televised on the Big Ten Network at 8:30 p.m. Following a bye date, the Lady Lions will host Minnesota on Thurs., Jan. 13 and then welcome Illinois to the BJC on Sun., Jan. 16 for a nationally televised game on ESPN2 at 4 p.m.

The Lady Lions travel to Purdue on Thurs., Jan. 20 before hosting Indiana on Sun., Jan. 23. Penn State is on the road again at Illinois on Thurs., Jan. 27. The Lions return to the BJC for a Big Ten Network game against Ohio State on Sun., Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. before opening a two-game road swing at Michigan (Thurs., Feb. 3) and Iowa (Sun., Feb. 6). Following a home game against Michigan State on Thurs., Feb. 10, the Lady Lions travel to Indiana (Sun., Feb. 13; 12:30 p.m.) and Ohio State (Thurs., Feb. 17; 7 p.m.) for Big Ten Network games.

Penn State closes the regular season with a pair of home games, starting with Purdue on Thurs., Feb. 24. The Lady Lions' regular season will culminate with the Fifth Annual WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State on Sun., Feb. 27 at noon against Northwestern. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

The Big Ten also announced that the Lady Lions will appear on the Big Ten Network against South Carolina (Sun., Nov. 21; 3:30 p.m.) and Army (Wed., Dec. 8; 6:30 p.m.). BigTenNetwork.com games and additional game times will be announced at a later date.

The Big Ten Tournament will be played March 3-6 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

The Lady Lions, who will face Gannon in an exhibition on Sun., Nov. 7, previously released their non-conference schedule. Penn State opens its season on the road at Dayton on Fri., Nov. 12. PSU faces Rider in its home opener on Sun., Nov. 14. The Lady Lions travel to Oakland (Thurs., Nov. 18) before returning to the friendly confines of the Bryce Jordan Center to continue their series with South Carolina on Sun., Nov. 21. Penn State will spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Riviera Maya, Mexico for the Caribbean Challenge (Thurs., Nov. 25 - Sat., Nov. 27). Joining the Lady Lions in the three-game tourney are NCAA participants Hartford and Wisconsin-Green Bay and WNIT participant Utah.

The Third Annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge will greet the Lady Lions when they return from Mexico as PSU travels to Boston College to face the Eagles on Thurs., Dec. 2. Penn State will kick off a six-game homestand to close out the non-conference season against Texas Tech in the inaugural Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge on Sun., Dec. 5. The Lady Lions face Army (Wed., Dec. 8) and Maine (Sun., Dec. 12) before taking a break for exams. Following exams, PSU hosts Delaware (Sun., Dec. 19), Drexel (Tues., Dec. 21) and Bucknell (Tues., Dec. 28) to finish non-conference competition.

The Lady Lions will have a youthful roster this season with eight freshmen and sophomores. Headlining the list of returnees are senior Julia Trogele (Devon, Pa.) and sophomores Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Nikki Greene (Diboll, Texas). Bentley was a third team All-Big Ten selection and a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman team choice a year ago. The sophomore guard finished 10th in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.445), fourth in assists (4.03) and 15th in steals (1.6). Trogele led the team and was 11th in the Big Ten in rebounding (6.2), while Greene rejected 55 shots as a rookie, placing her ninth on Penn State's single-season chart. She finished second on the team and 12th in the Big Ten in rebounding (6.2 rpg).

Penn State added another highly-touted recruiting class that includes a pair of All-Americans in Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) and Ariel Edwards (Elmont, N.Y.), as well as Talia East (Philadelphia, Pa.). Lucas is just the second McDonald's High School All-American in program history.

2010-11 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. The PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 10 vouchers that can be redeemed for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets in any combination.

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.

To view the complete Lady Lion 2010-11 schedule, click here.