UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back at the Lady Lions' big win over No. 13 North Carolina on Wednesday night from the running blog throughout the 103-84 victory.

Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com in-game blog for the Lady Lion basketball team.

We will bring you coverage from tonight's matchup between No. 15 Penn State (5-1) and the 13th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (5-0).  Penn State's last meeting with North Carolina resulted in a 77-71 win over the second-ranked Tar Heels on Dec. 5, 2004.  The Lions have not played at home since Nov. 13.

Check back throughout the game for updates at every media timeout.

Starting Lineups

Penn State: G - Bentley, G - Lucas, G - Gray, F - Edwards, C - Greene

First Half:

11:13: Penn State 25, North Carolina 22

Both teams got off to a frenetic pace, as we expected heading into the contest.  Zhaque Gray and Maggie Lucas each knocked down threes, but North Carolina scored on five of its first 10 shot attempts en route to a 14-10 lead at the first media timeout.  Foul trouble for Penn State's interior is a concern with Greene on the bench with two, Talia East with two and Ariel Edwards with one.  Nonetheless, the Lady Lions used a 6-0 spurt en route to building a 25-20 lead.  Laura Broomfield countered for the Tar Heels with a lay-in.  The action has been very entertaining with two very good offenses on display.

7:15: North Carolina 34, Penn State 31

Both teams have combined for 26-of-56 shooting and 65 points through 12:45 of game action.  Penn State has a trio of players with two fouls, but the Lions are continuing to find good looks on offense.  North Carolina erased a four-point deficit with a 9-0 scoring spurt on the way to a five-point lead of its own (34-29) before a Bentley basket sliced the lead down to three.  Broomfield has been the story for the Tar Heels.  The senior forward has 10 points and 10 rebounds already.

0:00: Penn State 58, North Carolina 51

One glance at the score and you might think it is a final, but the Lady Lions scored 58 points and took a seven-pint lead into the halftime break.  The numbers are truly incredible.  Penn State attempted 46 shots in 20 minutes of action, making 22 for 48 percent.  North Carolina shot 45 percent in the opening half.  Penn State used a 15-3 run late in the half to build the seven-point cushion.  Maggie Lucas led all scorers with 16 tallies, including four 3-pointers.  Alex Bentley tallied 13 and Zhaque Gray added 11.  Penn State committed just one turnover in the first half.  The Lion defense was swarming, forcing 13 miscues from the Tar Heels.  The fast pace favors both teams.  While the Lions lead by seven, no lead is safe with the way both teams have scored the basketball.

Second Half:

12:37: Penn State 70, North Carolina 66

The big story during the early minutes of the second half came just 56 seconds into play when Lucas picked up her fourth personal foul.  Nonetheless, the Lady Lions collectively stepped up to push the lead to 13 following a 3-pointer by Gray on the right wing.  The Heels answered with eight straight tallies, but Penn State did a very nice job continuing to find plenty of scoring opportunities with Lucas on the bench.  Freshman Tori Waldner has given the Lions a nice spark off the bench with six tallies and two rebounds.  The game just has the feel that it could go either way with a scoring run.

7:02: Penn State 84, North Carolina 69

North Carolina trimmed the margin down to just four, but the Lady Lions had seen enough.  Talia East kick-started a 14-0 run to push the lead up to as much as 18.  Ariel Edwards, who has 11 points and six rebounds,  banked in a jumper.  Greene then battled for an old-fashioned 3-point play before Marisa Wolfe nailed a rare 3-pointer.  Gray netted five straight tallies to make it 84-66 before the Tar Heels had an answer.  Lucas sat on the bench for nearly 12 minutes before returning.  During that span, the Lions out-scored North Carolina 22-15.

0:00: Penn State 103, North Carolina 84

Final Thoughts:

Head coach Coquese Washington said going into the game that the fist team to 100 was going to walk away with a victory.  For the second straight contest, the Lady Lions topped the century mark en route to a 103-84 triumph over No. 13 North Carolina.  It was a collective team effort for the Lady Lions.  Penn State weathered foul trouble on its way to a big win for the team's confidence.  Lucas scored 21 points in just 22 minutes of action because of foul trouble.  She left the game with four fouls just 56 seconds into the second half.  However, Penn State collectively stepped up and never faded on the offensive end of the floor.  Anytime you score 100 points in a college ballgame it is a noteworthy occasion, but to tally 103 against a team like North Carolina is a huge confidence boost for the Lady Lions moving forward.

Coach Washington made a point to say that Bentley was tremendous on Wednesday evening.  She also said after the game that the Lions used a bigger lineup than they usually do with Wolfe at the three spot.  That played a big role in winning the rebound battle in the second half.  North Carolina won the overall rebounding edge 48-40, but the Lions battled in the second half.

Penn State will take a 6-1 record to its contest at Texas Tech on Sunday afternoon.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior defensive tackle Devon Still added a jewel to the long list of honors following a standout senior season on Wednesday afternoon.

Joining an elite list of just four other Nittany Lions, Still was named 2011 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.  Wednesday's announcement came on the heels of the Delaware native earning first team All-Big Ten and Defensive Lineman of the year accolades on Monday.

Still talked with GoPSUsports.com about what it means to receive this distinguished recognition.

"Chevy Runs Deep" "We Are Penn State" "On, Wisconsin!" These slogans, unmistakable to place, are seemingly all very different however they have one very common thread, Pride.  Over our weekend on the road and in Wisconsin we came to realize how much pride fans have in each of these brands and how this pride creates a foundation for respect.

It's Friday morning, and the drive ahead is long but two things keep us going, the Chevy Sonic and our PSU Pride. As we called OnStar from the Stocker dealership in State College, we told Gloria our destination, Madison, Wisconsin. She laughed when she told us our ETA, "it looks like you are uh really far." We knew the journey would be long, but thankfully the 11-hour trip seemed effortless in the spacious back seat as we rehashed stories from PSU and played children's road trip games. When we arrived at the hotel in Middleton, we immediately felt welcomed as we saw the picture on our hotel key cards, the classic lion head logo.  After a much needed sleep, we headed out early to Madison to explore the town.

Our first stop, Mickies Dairy Bar, showed us just how much respect fans had for us. Dressed in blue, we stuck out like sore thumbs in the sea of red, however all the locals in the restaurant came over to talk to us about the game or offer advice on what to order. Everyone was welcoming and friendly even wishing us luck out on the field. It didn't matter we came from different schools and different states, we were proud of our institutions and the common bond that sense of pride brings.

As we continued about our day, we met a variety of folks, seeking out anyone with a Chevy.  Not surprisingly, they were everywhere. As soon as we parked, we walked over to the car in the next lot, a Tahoe, and started talking to the tailgate about their school and their car. The man, a die-hard Wisconsin fan commented that the love for his Chevy, aside from the car, comes from the fact that the company employs American workers and the car uses ethanol, which supports the production of corn.

The man was proud of his Chevy because, the Pride "Runs Deep." He was proud that his car supported his country and was proud of everything the car, and the company, offered. We found it easy to talk to the men at the tailgate about their cars and their alma mater. Continuing on our adventures to find Chevy owners we ran into a tailgate with an Equinox parked outside. As we started talking about the Chevy Sonic, and how we found ourselves all the way out in Wisconsin, one of the women told us that she had worked for Chevy for years and loved the company because of the atmosphere it provided. They welcomed us as friends, sharing Wisconsin-classic brats and cheese as well as college memories. Later on, when we entered the stadium, we felt a similar sense of Pride as is found in Happy Valley on game days.  

Amidst the pouring rain, the stadium was packed and fans were decked out in the red Badger gear. The cheering was constant as was the excitement, even though the game did not prove to be a win for the Nittany Lions. When we returned to our car to head back to the hotel, we found our Tahoe friends waiting for us, not to gloat about their win, but to offer suggestions for food and to talk about our journey back. They were gracious hosts, who welcomed us over our initial bond, the love for Chevrolet.

Whether its Pride for the Waffle Shop or Mickies Dairy Bar, for creamery ice cream or cheese curds, for the Blue or the red uniform, for the Nittany Lions or the Badgers, each student lives on the Pride they have for their institution; knowing that their university was the best possible choice for them. We got out on game weekends, because we are proud to represent our school colors and team. College is all about having pride in your school, your academics, your school spirit, and your extra-curricular activities.  We have Pride in our school because of the experiences we have had and the experience we all share. For four years we are all united for a once in a lifetime experience: cheering on our team, passing the final exam, or just hanging out with some friends. It is not the final diploma that really matters, but all of the years it took to get there. Luckily, in the Sonic, Chevy created the perfect vehicle to help get you through every step of the journey.

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - While players and coaches will often admit that rankings are somewhat meaningless early in any sports season, they do, in some respects give a snapshot of what teams are doing well at any point in the year.

A snapshot of Wednesday night in the Bryce Jordan Center would be a great one as the 15th-ranked Penn State Lady Lions get ready to take on the 13th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Penn State will be looking to build off its road momentum as they spent the Thanksgiving break bringing home two wins at the Nugget Classic including a 103-65 win over Nevada in the tournament's championship game.

Coach Coquese Washington was happy coming away with both wins, especially with strong bench play due to some foul trouble.

"Over the weekend our bench got a lot of quality time," Washington said.  "The way they're coming along is really going to help our team throughout the season."

That strong bench play was able to combine for 20 points and 18 rebounds against Nevada to go along with their nine points and seven rebounds in the first round 66-59 win over Iowa State.

"I thought we shot the ball well," Washington added on how the team played as a whole.  "We're moving the ball better on offense."

The team is hoping to use those positives to move forward coming back home.

While bench play will be important, it is one of the many keys to taking down a team as talented as the Tar Heels.

"We've got to understand what we need to do to be successful," Washington said.

"We've got to do a good job taking care of the ball and making good decisions with our passing and our shot selection," she added.

While taking care of the ball against a strong and athletic team like North Carolina will be key, Washington did mention one thing the team has to do to bring home the win: play transition defense.

"They're a team that score the bulk of their points in transition," Washington said. "If we don't get back and protect the basket and force them to play and run some offense the game could get out of hand."

"North Carolina likes to run," point guard Alex Bentley added simply.

While the players have been working hard all week to prepare for North Carolina, they also understand how important of an early test this game is, and what it means to play such a storied program in the Challenge at home.

"North Carolina is really good, you always hear their name," said Bentley.  "They're coming into our gym and we're excited to compete against them."

"It's going to be a great experience for our team," she added.

"It's good for our program," added guard Maggie Lucas.  "I hope a lot of people come out and watch us play tomorrow, we're excited." 

Getting fans out their for a game against a big-time program will be a huge plus for the home team. 

"I definitely think our kids feed off of the fans," Washington added, echoing the player's statements.

With a top 15 matchup this game is a time when the Lady Lions can prove just how good they are in an early test. 

"We're not just playing for Penn State, we're playing for the pride of the conference." Coach Washington said. 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers will head to Boston for his second homecoming, of sorts, in as many games.

The Philadelphia native coached in front of his family during Saturday's contest at St. Joe's.  On Wednesday night, the former Boston University head coach, will lead the Nittany Lions at Boston College in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

"It is going to be some emotions (going back to Boston)," Coach Chambers said.  "I had a son there.  I'm playing a good friend (BC head coach Steve Donahue).  I am going to go visit some people in the morning from BU in the morning and say hello.  But we are there to play a game.  And we are there to get better."

The Lions and Eagles are set to collide on Chestnut Hill at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday with television coverage on ESPNU.  Penn State has a 4-6 all-time record in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, including two-straight road victories.  The Big Ten has won the challenge, 6-5, during the past two seasons.  The ACC claimed the initial 10 challenges.

Penn State suffered through a 0-for-16 start to its 65-47 setback to St. Joe's on Saturday.  After falling behind 22-0 to open the game, the Lions out-scored the Hawks 47-33.  Nonetheless, ice cold shooting hindered the chances of a victory.

"I can't put my finger on it (shooting)," Coach Chambers said.  "I talk about confidence.  We had some really good looks.  We had some open shots that didn't fall.  That's when you need to get to the foul line."

First half shooting has been a point of concern for the Lions throughout the season.  Despite coming off a 56 percent effort against Youngstown State on Wednesday, Penn State managed just 4-for-38 from the floor in the first half on Saturday.

"I am in there before games telling them to play with confidence and no fear and to leave it out there," Coach Chambers said.  "When we go on the road, our numbers drop dramatically.  When we are here, we shoot the ball pretty well.  That is youth and inexperience...It is amazing we are 5-2 with what we are shooting.  We have defended well and rebounded, for the most part."

Coach Chambers said that it is human nature to think about missed shots if the team misses a couple starting the game.  Confidence plays a huge role in shooting on the road.

"I'm working on it - you want to change your offense and you want to do different things, but this is who we are, and I think we can simplify our offense even more so that they are not out there thinking," Coach Chambers said.

Boston College enters the game with a 2-4 mark on the season.  The Eagles played in Anaheim at the 76 Classic last week, going 1-2.  Boston College opened the season with a 67-64 victory over New Hampshire before three-straight losses against Holy Cross (86-64), Massachusetts (82-46) and Saint Louis (62-51).  The Eagles then beat UC Riverside 66-62 in overtime before a 75-57 setback to New Mexico.

"We are both young teams trying to figure out who we are and what our identity is," Coach Chambers said.  "It is going to be a tough game.  It is going to be a 40-minute battle."

Freshman guard Patrick Heckmann leads the team in scoring with13.8 points per game.  Heckmann is the leader on the team in assists with just nine.  Junior guard Matt Humphrey also averages double figures with 11.0 points per contest.  Boston College has been out-rebounded by nearly seven boards per contest, as well.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

The following is the tenth in a series of blog posts from senior Caitlin Lane. Lane is a team captain, Big Ten Champion and NCAA All-American in cross country.  The senior also holds a pair of school records on the track, including the indoor 1,000-meters (2:45.95), and outdoor 4x800-meter relay (8:39.44) outdoors.

This has been, without a doubt, the most memorable season I have ever experienced here at Penn State. There were highs and there were lows but I couldn't have asked for a better team. I started this season differently than the others, with more confidence and a better base. I set higher goals and worked as hard as I could to make sure I accomplished them. We set team goals, and although we fell short on some, we accomplished more than I think a lot of people thought we could. Finishing 16^th individually and 13^th as a team at the National Championships was the perfect ending to a great cross country career at Penn State. Top 15 was something that I knew we were capable of and I am so happy and so proud that I was able to be a part of this team.

It took me all Thanksgiving break to realize what had really happened at NCAA's. I raced, knowing that I was in contention to finish in the top 25 the whole way but I didn't think I would be able to hold the position until the end. As I rounded the bend to the home stretch, I saw my teammate Bekka Simko, shouting as loud as she could and I was somehow able to push myself past three, four, maybe five girls. Bekka has been my roommate a few times this season and I'm convinced she's my lucky charm. I crossed the finish line and even though I was exhausted, I looked for my teammates. I saw Kara and then Natalie, Brooklyne, Emily, Abbie and Lindsey cross the finish line. It was overwhelming watching all the girls stagger across the finish line and work their way through the crowd. We gathered up and headed back to the tent, feeling good even though we didn't know the end result yet. We just knew it was going to be good.

Parents were walking with us, congratulating us and hugging us. It was so great to have everyone be so proud. They knew how hard we had worked and it is so nice to have people there that are so encouraging and love everyone so much. I ran thinking of my dad, who at the last minute wasn't able to come watch. I thought about how proud he would have been if he had gotten to watch in person instead of online. After each kilometer mark that I passed I thought, 'dad would be here, yelling at me, and in a good way today!' As we walked back to the tent I thought about how much I wished my family could have been there, but how excited I was to get home and tell them all about it.

Throughout this season, blogging for gopsusports.com has been so fun for me. I love running and competing and I love being able to write about it. For those of you that have been reading and following us during the season, thank you! Although you might not be at our meets or cheering us on in person, having supporters all over is special and we appreciate it so much. To all of our track and field teammates who helped out at our home meets and cheered us on, thank you for being amazing people and the best teammates anyone could ask for. I would hate to be from another team with you guys cheering for us scattered throughout our home course. One word, intimidating! Thank you to our parents, coaches and friends for always being supportive and encouraging. And one last thank you, thank you to the girls and guys on the cross-country team. I'm thankful to have another two seasons with all of you before I have to say goodbye. You are amazing people and let's make these next two seasons even better than this one. WE ARE!

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com recently sat down with Penn State Acting Athletic Director Dave Joyner to discuss a wide range of topics, from the football coaching search to the direction of the athletic department.

Part One

Part Two

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - When Devon Still walked off the field following the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day, he knew what type of effort it was going to take to be an elite player during 2011.

Still tallied seven tackles, including 3.5 for a loss against the Gators.  The numbers speak for themselves, but shortly after the best game of his junior season, the Delaware native said that what the Outback Bowl taught him most was that it was necessary to play with a relentless work ethic on every single snap.

That mindset carried over to offseason workouts when Still trimmed down to a playing weight much more conducive to better stamina.  He and fellow defensive tackle Jordan Hill made a conscious effort of eating better to be in ideal playing shape for the start of the season.

Still's workhorse-like mentality in the weight room led to an outstanding senior campaign with dominant performances week after week.  He made a TFL in 11 of the 12 regular season games, finishing with 17.0 hits for a loss, including 11.5 in Big Ten play.  The Wilmington, Del., product faced double and triple teams throughout the season en route to 55 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

"You need to have the mindset that you are not going to be blocked," Still said.  "You need to keep fighting whether you are double teamed or triple teamed."

On Monday, he was rewarded for his efforts during a stellar regular season by earning first-team All-Big Ten honors and being named the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year.

"It is a tremendous honor," Still said.  "I play in a conference with a lot of good defensive linemen.  They kept me on my toes throughout the season to be at my best.  I think all of the credit goes to my coaches.  They put me in a position while I was on the field to make plays.  And to be on a defensive with so many talented players, I was able to play a dominant style of football because of the players around me."

The All-American candidate has a bright football future ahead of him after his time at Penn State is done.  He wants to follow in the footsteps of the four other Nittany Lions who have won the Defensive Lineman of the Year award.  Courtney Brown (1999), Jimmy Kennedy (2002), Tamba Hali (2005) and Jared Odrick (2009) are all previous winners of the award under coach Larry Johnson.

"Ever since I stepped on this campus, I knew that it was right to come to Penn State because of Coach Johnson's track record and how many players he has helped get to the NFL," Still said.  "He has helped me grow a lot since I have been here.  He has turned me into a phenomenal football player."

Still is also a finalist for the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and the Outland Trophy.  His path to All-Big Ten honors has not been easy.  The senior battled through an ACL injury and a broken foot along the way.  He has worked for everything, and Still could not be more deserving of the accolades he has received during the 2011 season.  He is on track to graduate with a crime, law and justice degree in December.

The co-captain has been a central figure leading the defense that ranks in the Top 12 nationally in scoring, total, pass and pass efficiency defense. He used the Outback Bowl performance as a motivator heading into what evolved into a truly dominant senior season.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The four-time defending national champion Nittany Lion women's volleyball team (23-7, 16-4) will be the No. 8 seed for the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Penn State will host Big South champion Liberty (20-12) in the opening round of the tournament on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Rec Hall.  The Penn State-Liberty winner will take on Delaware (20-12), the CAA champion, or American (23-10), the Patriot League champion.  Delaware and American collide at 5 p.m. on Friday.  The winners will meet in the second round on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Nittany Lions are in the Lexington Regional.  The other ranked teams in the regional include, top overall seed, Texas (22-4), No. 9 UCLA (24-6) and No. 16 Texas A&M (22-7).  Should the seeded teams all advance to the regional semifinals, Penn State would potentially play UCLA.  There is also the potential for a Penn State-Texas regional final matchup.  The Lions and Longhorns have met in each of the past two seasons in the national title match and national semifinals, respectively.

Looking ahead to this weekend's competition in Rec Hall, Delaware is the top team in the latest RPI at No. 79.  Liberty is ranked No. 145 and American is ranked No. 94.

Penn State and Stanford are the only two teams in the 31 years of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament to qualify for every postseason competition.  Stanford (21-7) is the No. 11 seed in this season's tournament. Penn State has hosted first and second round competition 25 times out of the 31 years the tournament has existed.

All eyes will be on the Honolulu Regional, which is on the opposite side of the bracket from Penn State.  Three of the top eight ranked teams in the nation - USC, Nebraska and Hawaii - are all part of the regional.

The 64-team field is made up of 31 automatic conference champion qualifiers and 33 at-large teams.  The Big Ten led all conferences with eight selections in the NCAA Tournament.  The quest for a berth in the National Semifinals in San Antonio begins on Thursday for 20 teams on the bracket.  Below are the automatic qualifiers and at-large teams:

31 Automatic Qualifiers (RPI)

AEC - Albany (85)
A-10 - Dayton (36)
ACC - Florida State (10)
Atlantic Sun - Lipscomb (89)
Big 12 - Texas (2)
Big East - Cincinnati (19)
Big Sky - Northern Colorado (108)
Big South - Liberty (145)
Big Ten - Nebraska (4)
Big West - Long Beach State (41)
CAA - Delaware (79)
Conference USA - Tulsa (24)
Horizon League - UW-Milwaukee (50)
Ivy - Yale (91)
MAAC - Niagara (148)
MAC - Central Michigan (74)
MEAC - Maryland-Eastern Shore (195)
MVC - Northern Iowa (5)
MWC - Colorado State (28)
NEC - Sacred Heart (80)
Ohio Valley - Morehead State (86)
PAC-12 - USC (8)
Patriot - American (94)
SEC - Tennessee (9)
Southern - Samford (62)
Southland - Texas State (72)
SWAC - Jackson State (217)
Summit - North Dakota State (42)
Sun Belt - Western Kentucky (21)
WCC - Pepperdine (16)
WAC - Hawaii (7)

33 At-Large Teams (RPI)

Illinois (1)
Iowa State (3)
Purdue (6)
Penn State (11)
Minnesota (12)
Kentucky (13)
Northern Illinois (14)
UCLA (15)
Texas A&M (17)
Stanford (18)
Florida (20)
Miami (Florida) (22)
Michigan (23)
San Diego (25)
Kansas State (26)
Oklahoma (27)
California (29)
Oregon (30)
North Carolina (31)
Western Michigan (32)
Missouri (33)
Ball State (34)
Washington (35)
Michigan State (37)
Louisville (38)
Wichita State (39)
Marquette (40)
Duke (43)
Missouri State (44)
Middle Tennessee (45)
Baylor (46)
Ohio State (48)
Arizona (49)

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State players address the media following Saturday's 45-7 setback at Wisconsin.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State interim head coach Tom Bradley addresses the media at Camp Randall Stadium following Saturday's 45-7 setback at Wisconsin.

MADISON, Wis. - Welcome to Camp Randall Stadium for gameday coverage of a Big Ten Leaders Division title matchup between Penn State and Wisconsin.

GoPSUsports.com has provided in-game coverage from all 12 contests during the fall.  Today, Penn State is in Madison with a Big Ten Championship Game berth on the line.

Stay tuned throughout gameday for updates from the press box as things transpire.

11 a.m. CT - Good Morning

Good morning from cloudy and soggy Madison as the Nittany Lions prepare for the regular season finale.  The stakes are clear with the winner of today's game earning a spot in the first Big Ten Championship Game.  The weather conditions are could play a factor in today's game.  The Madison area received rain this morning and there is moisture in the area.  Temperatures are also expected to fall into the 40s as the day progresses.

11:30 a.m. CT - Defending the High-Powered Offense

The Nittany Lion defense has been tremendous throughout 2011.  The Lions have limited nine of their 11 opponents to 18 points or less.  Penn State leads the Big Ten in scoring defense (13.0) and ranks among the nation's elite in four major defensive categories.  However, Wisconsin will likely be the biggest test of the season.  The Badger offense has been a machine, leading the Big Ten in scoring (44.8 ppg), total offense (479.5 ypg) and rushing offense (245.1 ypg).  Quarterback Russell Wilson has 26 touchdowns and just three interceptions.  Running back Montee Ball has 30 total touchdowns. 

12:00 p.m. CT - Wisconsin Offensive Line

The Badgers field the biggest offensive line the Nittany Lions have faced all season.  How Devon Still, Jordan Hill and the rest of the Penn State front seven deals with the Badgers will play a big role in the outcome of the game.  The Lions must hold their own against the Wisconsin O-line on defense.  Should the Badgers move the football on the ground, it will be an uphill climb for the Lions.  How the Nittany Lion defense plays against the Badger offensive line is the key area to watch.

12:30 p.m. CT - Turnovers

Limiting the number of turnovers is important every week, but with an offense like Wisconsin's on the other side of the field, Penn State can ill afford mistakes.  The Badgers can turn a short field following a turnover into points very quickly.  Matt McGloin and the Penn State ball carriers must take care of the football.

1:00 p.m. CT - Third and Short

1:30 p.m. CT - Nittany Lions on the Field

2:15 p.m. CT - Almost Game Time

We are heading down to the field for the opening half of action.  Stay tuned for updates at halftime and in the second half.

Halftime - Wisconsin 28, Penn State 7

Penn State struck first with a 44-yard touchdown connection between Matt McGloin and wide out Curtis Drake, but it was all Wisconsin after that, literally.  The Badgers held the ball for 21:54 to Penn State's 8:06 in the first half en route to a 28-7 lead at the break.  Penn State committed two costly turnovers, including one immediately following Wisconsin's tying touchdown.  When you give the Badger offense a short field, as the Lions did twice, the unit turns it into points.  Wisconsin's offense tallied 278 total yards to Penn State's 111.  The Badgers also ran 48 plays to Penn State's 19.  In addition to the two turnovers, the Lions committed four penalties for 45 yards.  You cannot make mistakes like the Nittany Lions did in the first half and expect to be in the ballgame with a superb offense like Wisconsin has.  Badger quarterback Russell Wilson put on a clinic in the opening 30 minutes, going 15-for-21 for 149 yards and two scores through the air.  He rushed for 44 yards, as well.  Nonetheless, the Lions will receive the opening kickoff to start the second half, and they need points.

12:52, 3rd Quarter - Wisconsin 35, Penn State 7

Penn State picked up a quick first down, but Silas Redd fumbled one play later, marking the Lions' third miscue of the game.  And for the third time, the Badgers turned a Nittany Lion turnover into a touchdown.  Wilson is seemingly moving the football at will.  He has the Lions off balance every time the Badgers have the ball.

10:01, 3rd Quarter - Lion Offense Moves Down Field, but Comes Up Short

4:09, 3rd Quarter - Another Costly Penalty

After being pinned inside its own 10 yard line, Penn State finally got the big offensive play it had been needing.  Stephfon Green took a hand off over the left side of the offense before finding open space down the sideline for an 89-yard gain.  However, and illegal chop-block penalty wiped out the big gain.  Three plays later, Penn State punted.  The penalty essentially ended the drive before Wisconsin tailback Montee Ball took advantage of a short field for his fourth touchdown of the afternoon.  Wisconsin leads, 42-7.

End 3rd Quarter - Wisconsin 42, Penn State 7

Prior to Saturday's game, Penn State had not given up 42 points since 2002 in a 42-35 overtime setback to Iowa in 2002.  As a side note off the field, Wisconsin's trademark "Jump Around" tradition had the press box literally shaking for more than a minute.

10:47, Fourth Quarter - Four Turnovers, 24 Points

Penn State's turnover issues struck the special teams unit for the second time this evening.  A fumbled punt return by Drew Astorino handed the Badgers a short field before Wisconsin kicked a field goal to make it 45-7.  The Badgers have now scored 24 points off of four Nittany Lion turnovers.

Final Thoughts

It is impossible to beat a very good team like Wisconsin with four turnovers and several penalties.  Not to take anything away from Wisconsin's offense, which was tremendous on Saturday, but the Nittany Lions were very uncharacteristic of how they have been all season.  The Badgers will represent the Leaders Division in the first ever Big Ten Championship Game next Saturday.  The Lions will finish the year 9-3.  Granted, it was not the way anyone wanted to finish the season, but nine wins in 2011 was a very solid campaign for the Nittany Lion players.

MADISON, Wis. - Welcome to the Gameday Photo Blog from Camp Randall Stadium.  Stay tuned throughout Saturday for updated images from Penn State's regular season finale against Wisconsin.

Buses lined up at the Lasch Building.

Boarding the plane in State College.

Inside the Penn State charter.

Arrival at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison.

Badger Coaches providing the ground transportation.

Silas Redd and Justin Brown at team dinner.

The Nittany Lions heading off the bus at Camp Randall.

Heading to the locker room at Camp Randall Stadium.

On the field.

Camp Randall Stadium.

Matt McGloin and Derek Moye out for warm-ups.

High above the stadium.

Inside the Press Box.

Matt McGloin warming up.

Curtis Drake running a pass pattern.

The defensive backs.

In the huddle.

Setting the scene in Madison.

Penn State warming up.

In the stretching lines.

Penn State taking the field.

The Penn State defense.

Matt McGloin under center.

Matt McGloin looking for Curtis Drake.

The Penn State defense lined up.

Lined up for a play.

Linebacker Michael Mauti signaling on the sidelines.

The offensive huddle.

The wildcat formation.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

VIDEO: Coach Bradley Preview of Wisconsin

VIDEO: Penn State Player One-on-One Interviews

Around the Big Ten - Week 13

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Leaders Division champion will be decided when the 19th-ranked Nittany Lions (9-2, 6-1) head on the road for a critical regular season finale at No. 16 Wisconsin (9-2, 5-2) on Saturday inside Camp Randal Stadium (3:30 p.m. on ESPN).

The stakes are very clear with the winner of Saturday's game advancing to Indianapolis for a date with Michigan State in the first Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3.  The series between Penn State and Wisconsin is tied 6-6 as Big Ten competitors, with each team winning three times at home and three times on the road.

The Nittany Lions will take a great deal of confidence into the final regular season game after an emotional, resilient 20-14 victory at Ohio State.  The Badgers rallied from 14-0 down at Illinois en route to a 28-17 victory in Champaign.  The stage is set for a winner-take-all clash for a spot in the Big Ten title game.

Welcome to Penn State-Wisconsin gameday.

Pregame Reading:

What to Watch For - Penn State
1.  The Nittany Lion defense has been tremendous throughout 2011.  The Lions have limited nine of their 11 opponents to 18 points or less.  Penn State leads the Big Ten in scoring defense (13.0) and ranks among the nation's elite in four major defensive categories.  However, Wisconsin will likely be the biggest test of the season.  The Badger offense has been a machine, leading the Big Ten in scoring (44.8 ppg), total offense (479.5 ypg) and rushing offense (245.1 ypg).  Quarterback Russell Wilson has 26 touchdowns and just three interceptions.  Running back Montee Ball has 30 total touchdowns.  The defensive scheme will begin with stopping the run, as the Lions cannot afford big day from Ball.  Keep an eye on the matchup between Penn State's front seven and the talented Wisconsin offensive line.

2.  The Lions used the Wildcat offense with wide receivers Curtis Drake and Bill Belton to provide a big spark in Columbus.  Look for more of the same on Saturday.  Coach Tom Bradley said that the Lions could use a few more wrinkles out of the Wildcat offense.  Generally speaking, Penn State's offense needs to make some big plays.  Whether it is Silas Redd or Stephfon Green on the ground, the Wildcat, or Matt McGloin and Derek Moye in the passing game, the Lions can alleviate some of the pressure on their defense with some big plays on offense.  Ball possession will be key for the Lions.

3.  Limiting the number of turnovers is important every week, but with an offense like Wisconsin's on the other side of the field, Penn State can ill afford mistakes.  The Badgers can turn a short field following a turnover into points very quickly.  On the defensive side of the ball, the same story applies.  Penn State has forced 25 turnovers in 2011.  Keep an eye on the turnover numbers.

What to Watch For - Wisconsin
1.  While Wilson has been a big difference maker for the Badger offense in his first season, Ball is the player to watch for on Saturday.  The junior tailback is one of just five players in FBS history to score at least 30 touchdowns in a season.  Wisconsin wants to establish the ground game to set up passing opportunities down field for Wilson.  Ball averages 6.6 yards per carry.

2.  One of the most impressive statistics about Wisconsin's high-powered offense is that it averages 7.3 yards per play.  With that being said, the Badgers are very rarely in third-and-long situations, making it very favorable for Wilson to move the chains.  Wilson is tremendous on play-action passes in third-and-short situations.  Wisconsin's offense has scored 66 touchdowns in 2011, but it has only committed a total of seven turnovers (three fumbles and four interceptions).  The Badgers have a knack for making big plays on offense, but rarely make mistakes.

3.  The Badgers have won 15 consecutive games at Camp Randall Stadium, second only to LSU for the longest home winning streak in the country.  Wisconsin is beating its opponents by a an average of 41 points per game at home this year.  It is Senior Day with a lot on the line.  Camp Randall Stadium will be amped.


Gameday Rundown

Breaking Down the Injuries:
Penn State: TE Garry Gilliam (knee) - Out, DE Pete Massaro (knee) - Out, LB Michael Mauti (knee) - Out, RB Pat Zerbe (knee) - Out
Wisconsin: No published injury report

The Game:
Kickoff: 2:36 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN - Sean McDonough (PBP), Matt Millen (Analyst), Tom Rinaldi (Sidelines)
Radio: Penn State Sports Network - Steve Jones (PBP), Jack Ham (Analyst)
Online: GoPSUsports.com
Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium (80,321) - FieldTurf
Coaches: Tom Bradley - 1-1, 1st season
Brett Bielema - 58-18, 6th season
The Series: Wisconsin, 8-6


The Final Word:
Every day since the opening practice in early August, the Nittany Lions have broken the huddle with, "One, two, three...Big Ten champs."  The goal of winning a Big Ten title has been on the players' mind since preseason workouts began in January.  The season has come down to one final Saturday with Big Ten title game aspirations on the line at one of the famed college football shrines.  As a player, you cannot really ask for much more than to be a part of a playoff-like game on the final Saturday in November.  Penn State has battled through a never-ending list of adversity to put itself in a position to win the Leaders Division.  Wisconsin is a superb football team in all three phases of the game.  The Nittany Lions will need a flawless performance in every facet of the game, but especially in the trenches on both sides of the ball.  Penn State got off to a quick start in Columbus last weekend, and it will need more of the same against the Badgers.  Limiting Ball's production in the running game is crucial.  And the battle in the trenches will likely decide the outcome of the Leaders Division "title" game at Camp Randall Stadium.


Be on the lookout for the Gameday Photo Blog and live in-Game Blog from Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As we do each week, the GoPSUsports.com Football Blog takes a look at all of the Big Ten games on the schedule.  There are six conference matchups during the final week of the regular season.

Friday:

Iowa (7-4, 4-3) at #21 Nebraska (8-3, 4-3) - Noon - ABC

While the Hawkeyes will take a great deal of momentum into Lincoln after a 31-21 win at Purdue, the Cornhuskers are looking to get back on track following a 45-17 setback at Michigan.  Beginning with Iowa, quarterback James Vandenberg and receiver Marvin McNutt were tremendous against the Boilers.  Keep an eye on those two players again this week.  As for Nebraska, it needs a much better defensive effort than it got last week in Ann Arbor.  Additionally, quarterback Taylor Martinez and running back Rex Burkhead will be looking to help the offense rebound at home.

Saturday:

Ohio State (6-5, 3-4) at #15 Michigan (9-2, 5-2) - Noon - ABC

The bitter rivalry will take on a much different role than it has in the previous few seasons, as Michigan is a comfortable favorite (7 points) over the Buckeyes with a 9-2 overall mark.  Denard Robinson and the Wolverine offense rolled over Nebraska last week.  Additionally, the much-improved Michigan defense has been very impressive of late.  Meanwhile, the Buckeyes need a victory to carry some momentum into the bowl season.  Ohio State's offense will be looking for big plays from DeVier Posey and Dan Herron.  The Buckeyes will need to put points on the board to keep up with the Michigan offense.  The Wolverines are battling for a BCS at-large berth, but anything can happen in rivalry games.

#14 Michigan State (9-2, 6-1) at Northwestern (6-5, 3-4) - Noon - BTN

The Spartans locked up a berth in the Big Ten title game last week with a 55-3 win over Indiana.  Although the contest does not mean much in the grand scheme of Michigan State's season, the Spartans do not want to enter the championship game with a loss.  Northwestern became bowl eligible with its fourth-straight victory last Saturday.  The Wildcat offense will be a stiff test for the Spartan defense, but Kirk Cousins will likely see plenty of opportunities in the passing game.

Purdue (5-6, 3-4) at Indiana (1-10, 0-7) - 3:30 p.m. - BTN

The battle for the Old Oaken Bucket is a bitter rivalry in the Hoosier State.  Purdue needs one more victory to become bowl eligible, and Indiana is seeking its first conference victory.  Both teams enter the game following a loss, but Purdue's defense will likely be the story to watch in Bloomington.  A win for Indiana could salvage its season and head into the winter months with some momentum.  Nonetheless, the Boilermakers have a lot to play for.  Bowl games add 15 extra practices onto the schedule, which can be huge for Purdue as it builds for 2012.

Illinois (6-5, 2-5) at Minnesota (2-9, 1-6) - 3:30 p.m. - BTN

Illinois built a two-score lead over Wisconsin last Saturday, but the Illini ultimately lost their fifth straight game.  The Illini will play in a bowl game, but they want to take some confidence into the postseason with a victory at Minnesota.  The Gophers need a big day from quarterback MarQueis Gray and their offense.  Look for Illinois to again use two quarterbacks this week with freshman Reilly O'Toole and Nathan Scheelhaase.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

PSU Chevy road warriors took over Buckeye land this weekend for the clash between Penn State University and the Ohio State University. 

5 people...

4 road warriors...

3 buckeye donuts...

2 temple field passes...

and ONE Chevy Sonic later, Penn State came out with the victory 20 to 16. 

This puts us one game away from making it to the first ever Big Ten Championship game. However, this weekend was more than the game. The Friday before the game I got to spend time with the football players in the hotel, pumping them up and getting pumped up from their energy. On Saturday morning we hit the road to complete the road warrior challenges, which included whispering into the "Whispering Wall," talking on the echoing rock, learning the tradition about "Mirror Lake," and enjoying one amazing glazed donut from "Buckeye Donuts." In addition, I was surprised with recognition at the Penn State Alumni Association where I also got to meet up with my fellow cheerleaders and the Nittany Lion, as well as the pep band and drum major Ian Kenney. At the game I ran into many Penn State fans, many of which I knew from school. 

Finally, the most unexpected experience this weekend was the treatment of the Ohio State fans. I received zero disrespect from the Ohio State fans. In fact, they came up to me after the game to wish me good luck on behalf of the team, against Wisconsin next week. Ohio State wants us to win?!! Perhaps new bonds of sportsmanship were formed this weekend, and the Chevy Sonic was a part of all this. We couldn't have done it with the smooth ride, bumping speak system, and under the direction of Mrs. ONSTAR! Until next time, Lethal Lions roll out.  

Drive On,

Rene   

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions spent Wednesday night together at a theater in State College watching "Immortals" following the third practice of the week.  The squad will practice again on Thursday and participate in a group Thanksgiving dinner. 

As the Lions continue preparations for Saturday's Leaders Division "title" game at Wisconsin, the stakes are clear.  A win over Wisconsin would send the Nittany Lions to Indianapolis for the first Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3.  GoPSUsports.com caught up with a trio of senior players this week for their thoughts on the critical contest at Wisconsin.

From an offensive perspective, take a look at what senior captain Derek Moye has to say about Wisconsin week preparations and how the Nittany Lions are staying focused this week.

Moving to the defensive side of the ball, we talked with captain Drew Astorino and linebacker Nate Stupar on slowing down the Wisconsin offense and what it has been like playing for Coach Bradley both when he was the defensive coordinator and now as the interim head coach.  Take a look.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - 'Tis the season for giving thanks, and the Penn State student-athletes wanted to take an opportunity to say thank you to their loyal fans on Thanksgiving.

As you sit down with family and friends to eat your traditional meal while the Lions and Cowboys host their annual Thanksgiving day home games, Penn State Athletics would like to thank you, the fans, for the unrivaled support you give every team on campus.  Penn State's teams would not be the same without the greatest fans in college sports.

As a token of their appreciation, several athletes would like to say thank you and Happy Thanksgiving for the support you give them throughout the athletic season.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back through the running blog of Penn State's 82-71 victory over Youngstown State on Wednesday night.  Penn State improved to 5-1 on the season before traveling to Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon.

Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com in-game blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.

We will bring you coverage from tonight's matchup between Penn State (4-1) and the Youngstown State Penguins (3-0) inside the Bryce Jordan Center.  The Nittany Lions and Penguins have never met before.  The Lions return to action after a 53-49 victory over South Florida on Sunday.

Check back throughout the game for updates at every media timeout.

Starting Lineups

Penn State: G - Frazier, G - Glover, F - Woodyard, F - Oliver, F - Borovnjak

YSU: G - Ashen Ward, G - Kendrick Perry, G - Blake Allen, F - DuShawn Brooks, F - Damian Eargle

First Half:

15:59 - Penn State 10, Youngstown State 5

Forward Billy Oliver drained the first long ball of the night to put the Lions up early.  Oliver's confidence has been a big part of his offensive surge during the first portion of the season.  He sank a big 3-pointer for the Lions on Sunday against South Florida.  Tim Frazier has four quick tallies and Jermaine Marshall stepped off the bench and promptly knocked down a 3-pointer.  Coach Chambers used an early timeout after YSU notched its third offensive rebound of the early minutes.  Nonetheless, the Lions have moved the ball well on offense thus far.

11:53 - Penn State 19, Youngstown State 10

Penn State has started red-hot shooting the basketball.  Penn State is 6-of-10 from the field and a sizzling 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.  Frazier is well on his way to another strong outing for the Nittany Lions.  The junior guard has seven tallies and four assists on 2-for-2 shooting and 3-for-3 from the foul line.  Youngstown State is shooting just 23 percent from the field.

7:42 - Penn State 26, Youngstown State 18

The Nittany Lions' hot shooting continues to be the theme for the first half.  Penn State is still at 60 percent from the field and 83 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.  Frazier registered his sixth assist of the night on a basket from Cam Woodyard, who has five points.  The Lions have gotten nice production off the bench from Trey Lewis, Jermaine Marshall and Jon Graham.  The trip has combined for eight points and three rebounds.

3:53 - Penn State 35, Youngstown State 18

Boosted by a 9-0 spurt, the Nittany Lions built a 17-point edge following a free throw from Matt Glover.  Glover has brought very good energy to the starting rotation tonight.  Frazier continues to seemingly score at will for the Nittany Lions.  The Texas native has 12 tallies and six assists as the Lions continue to blitz the nets with 60 percent shooting from the field and 75 percent from beyond the arc.

0:00 - Penn State 44, Youngstown 26

The Nittany Lions came into the game shooting 28.9 percent from the field and 19 percent from 3-point range during the first half of games this season.  On Wednesday night, Penn State finished the first half shooting 60 percent (15-25) from the floor and 70 percent (7-10) from beyond the arc.  Frazier led the team in scoring with 14 points and eight assists.  Woodyard added eight tallies, while Oliver scored six.  Penn State was equally as impressive on defense, limiting Youngstown State to just 10-for-32 from the field (31 percent).  The Lions closed the final 8:21 of the half on a 20-10 run.  The offense did a superb job moving the ball on offense, but 12 turnovers is an area to work on in the second half.  Nonetheless, the Lions lead by 18 at the break.

Second Half:

15:32 - Penn State 50, Youngstown State 38

After shooting just 31 percent in the first half, Youngstown State came out of the locker room red-hot.  The Penguins have sliced the 18-point Nittany Lion lead down to 12, thanks to 5-of-8 shooting from the floor.  Penn State has yielded nine offensive rebounds to the visiting Penguins. 

11:31 - Penn State 58, Youngstown State 47

It seems like we are writing the same story every night about Frazier, but the junior continues to impress for the Nittany Lions.   Frazier is one point away from his fourth 20-point game this season.  He also has nine assists.  The Penguins are hanging around with superb outside shooting from Blake Allen (4-7) and Kendrick Perry (4-6).  After scoring 26 points in the first half, YSU has already tallied 19 points in the first 8:29 of the second half.

7:16 - Penn State 64, Youngstown State 54

With his 10th assist, Frazier has now recorded his third double-double of the season.  The Lions had things well in control at the break, but Youngstown State's 3-point shooting has allowed the Penguins to hang close in the second half.  YSU is 10-for-20 from beyond the arc, including 6-for-10 this half.  Better shooting from the Penguins and a season-high 15 turnovers from the Lions have the scoreboard reading a 10-point lead for the Nittany Lions.

3:42 - Penn State 73, Youngstown State 60

The Nittany Lions pushed the lead to 14 on a superb alley-oop pass from Frazier to Travis.  Frazier had Travis eyed just after crossing the mid-court line to set up the 30-foot connection.  Nonetheless, YSU came right back with a four-point play from Nate Perry to trim the lead back down to 10.  Frazier answered with a leaner in the paint to extend the margin back to 12, but YSU came right back with two foul shots.  Lewis then knocked down a high arching shot along the left wing to set the scoreboard margin at 13.  The Lions are still shooting 58 percent from the floor and 52 percent from beyond the arc for the game.

0:00 - Penn State 82, Youngstown State 71

After leading by as much as 21 during the first half, the Nittany Lions fended off a second-half 3-point shooting surge from Youngstown State to remain unbeaten at home.  YSU got as close as nine late, but the Lions finished things off at the foul line to clinch the 11-point victory.  Penn State was superb shooting the basketball from the field (57 percent) and from beyond the arc (50 percent), but just 61 percent from the foul line.  Frazier led the way with 26 points on a sizzling 8-for-11 shooting.  He also added 11 assists, four rebounds and two steals.  Lewis chipped in with 12 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, while Woodyard added 10.

Final Thoughts:

The Nittany Lions moved to 5-1 on Wednesday night with a solid victory over an aggressive Youngstown State squad.  Penn State used superb shooting, especially in the first half, to build a double-digit cushion.  YSU got as close as nine during the second half, but Frazier was too strong down the stretch.  The Lions shot north of 55 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range, but the 61 percent effort from the foul line and 18 turnovers need to improve moving forward.  Nevertheless, the offense scored 82 points on 46 field goal attempts.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State (9-2, 6-1) and Wisconsin (9-2, 5-2) will decide the Leaders Division on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. inside Camp Randall Stadium.

The two foes will be meeting for the 15th time this week.  Since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten, the series has been split 6-6, with each team winning three home games and three away games.  Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in scoring offense at 44.8 points per game.  Penn State leads the Big Ten in scoring defense at 13.0 points per game.  The Badgers lead the conference in pass efficiency at 191.4.  The Nittany Lions lead the conference in pass defense efficiency at 96.3.

The stage is set for a very intriguing matchup between a superb offense and a stifling defense.  Interim head coach Tom Bradley spent time talking with GoPSUsports.com about preparing for the winner-take-all Leaders Division clash with the Badgers.

Take a look at a Wisconsin preview interview with Coach Bradley.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion players have been working towards the opportunity to play in the Big Ten Championship Game since practice began in August.

With 11 weeks down, Penn State has put itself in that position to play for a spot in the title game on Dec. 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The stakes are very clear.  The winner of Saturday's clash in Camp Randall Stadium will meet Michigan State for a Big Ten title.

Following a hard fought win at Ohio State, the Nittany Lions will take a great deal of confidence into Saturday's clash in Madison.

"I think it gave them a little bit more confidence, a little bit more belief," said interim head coach Tom Bradley.  "They knew it was a rough road playing Nebraska, Ohio State, now coming up with Wisconsin.  A lot of their hard work paid off last week.  They're excited to be able to go out and play for the championship game here for this side of the division."

Penn State will have a big challenge on its hands when it takes the field for the winner-take-all matchup on Saturday.  Wisconsin is a talented squad on both sides of the football.  Coach Bradley said that defending quarterback Russell Wilson, who is completing 74 percent of his passes, is a very big test.

"They're a hard team to defend in the fact that they have - if you look at the games we've broken down, the five games that we broke down, they were only in third and 10 plus a total of seven times," Coach Bradley said.  "There's seven to 10, maybe eight times.  So they're always efficient on third downs - the worst-case scenario for them is third and five.  That's a long third down for them.  They're very efficient on offense."

The Badgers are two dramatic plays away from being undefeated right now.

"It's a good football team," said Coach Bradley.  "They've lost two games both - one was the last play of the game, the other one is pretty close to the last play of the game.  Playing up there, tough place to play, but a great place to play.  Exciting."

Penn State and Wisconsin last met on Oct. 11, 2008 in Madison, with the Nittany Lions rolling to a 48-7 victory.  The Lions and Badgers are set to collide in a high stakes battle on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN).

"Like I said, they (players) have done everything we've asked them to do," Coach Bradley said.  "They've eliminated the distractions.  They've hung tough.  It's been a heck of a group.  There's some great leadership on this group for a lot of different people.  And that has to filter down from the top to the bottom.  They've been practicing well."


Press Conference Notes:
- Devon Still was named a Bednarik Award and Outland Trophy finalist on Monday afternoon.  Here is what Coach Bradley had to say about the senior defensive tackle.

"He's been playing great.  But I'm going to remember him and thank him for his great leadership off the field with the players, the way he's handled the team, the way he's been taking those guys under his wing and making sure that everybody does the right thing.  And what happens is nobody gets to see that side of it.  They just see him on the field.  He spends a lot of time in that locker room off the field communicating, making sure we're on the right page."

- With Penn State on Thanksgiving break, the players do not have classes this week.  The Nittany Lions have mandatory study hall, but there is also some spare time for extra things.  Coach Bradley said that he is taking the squad to a movie on Wednesday night in State College.  Under NCAA rules, the players are allowed to receive a free popcorn and Coke at the movies.  As for the film, Coach Bradley left the decision up to the team.  He thought the squad had selected the "Immortals".

- In reference to the Wildcat formation, Coach Bradley said the Nittany Lions could put in a few more wrinkles moving forward.

- Coach Bradley said that the Lions need to be able to get crucial first downs in short yardage situations.  He said that the team needs to be mentally smart down on the goal line and avoid mistakes.

- Silas Redd will again be held out of contact this week to allow the sophomore to continue healing up for Saturday's game.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After falling to Kentucky on Saturday, the Nittany Lion basketball team battled its way to a hard-fought victory over BIG EAST foe South Florida at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament in Connecticut on Sunday afternoon.

With a 4-1 record, the Lions return home on Wednesday night for a pre-Thanksgiving matchup against Youngstown State.  The Penguins enter the game with a 3-0 mark after victories over Samford, Notre Dame College and UC-Riverside.

GoPSUsports.com sat down with assistant coach Keith Urgo for the Next Game Primer video scouting report of the YSU Penguins leading up to Wednesday's 7 p.m. clash in the Bryce Jordan Center.  Take a look.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look through some of the significant numbers following Saturday's 20-14 victory at Ohio State.

3: Penn State has won three games at Ohio Stadium since 1978 (1978, 2008, 2011).  All three victories came when Ohio State started a true freshman quarterback.

6.1: The Nittany Lion offense averaged 6.1 yards per carry on 39 rushing attempts against Ohio State.  The average marked a season-high with the previous mark coming against Indiana State (5.1) in the opener.

7: Penn State is 7-1 in games decided by 10 points or less this season and 5-1 in games decided by seven points or less. The Nittany Lions have won seven games by 10 points or less for the first time since 1985.

9: The Penn State defense has limited nine of its 11 opponents to 18 points or fewer during the 2011 season.

25: With two forced fumbles on Saturday, the Nittany Lion defense has now caused 25 turnovers in 2011.

46: Sophomore kicker Anthony Fera's 46-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter was the longest of his career.  Fera went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts on Saturday.

239: The Nittany Lions tallied 219 rushing yards on Saturday afternoon.  It was the second-highest total of the season (245 vs. Indiana State).

289: Penn State limited the Buckeyes to 289 yards of total offense, marking the seventh time in 2011 that the Lions have held their opponent to fewer than 300 yards of total offense.

Monday Notebook:
Winner Take All in Madison
Michigan State punched its ticket to Indianapolis with a dominant victory over Indiana on Saturday afternoon.  The Spartans will represent the Legends Division at the Big Ten Championship Game.  Either Penn State or Wisconsin will be the Leaders Division representative on the opposite sideline at Lucas Oil Stadium.  The Nittany Lions and Badgers will collide in a winner-take-all matchup at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. live on ESPN.

Lions Ranked No. 19 in BCS
The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 19 in the BCS this week.  With a BCS average of .3055, Penn State trails No. 18 Baylor by two hundredths of a point.  The Nittany Lions are ranked 18th in the Harris and 19th in the USA Today polls.  Penn State is ranked 18th in the Computer Rankings.  The BCS formula includes an average of six computer rankings.  There are five Big Ten teams in the BCS standings this week.

Weekly Defense Ranking Update
Penn State's defense is among the nation's elite in several statistical categories again this week.  The Lions are ranked eighth or higher in four major NCAA statistical categories.  The Nittany Lions are ranked eighth in total defense (287.36 ypg), third in scoring defense (13.00 ppg), fourth in pass efficiency defense (96.35), sixth in pass defense (160.00 ypg) and 34th in rushing defense (127.36 ypg).

Early Look at Wisconsin
Wisconsin rallied from 14-0 down to defeat the Illinois 28-17 in Champaign.  The Badgers head into the final week of the regular season with a 9-2 overall mark and a 5-2 record in the Big Ten.  Wisconsin's two losses - at Michigan State and at Ohio State - came by a combined 10 points.  Wisconsin is two dramatic, final-second plays away from being undefeated.  The Badgers are 6-0 at home, out-scoring their opponents 314-68 at Camp Randall Stadium.  Wisconsin has won its home games by an average of 41.0 points per game.  The numbers speak for themselves, but it is worth pointing out that Wisconsin has not faced a team at Camp Randall Stadium with a total defense ranked better than 42nd in the nation.

The Wisconsin offense is ranked 12th in the nation in total offense (479.55 ypg), fifth in scoring offense (44.82 ppg) and 10th in rushing offense (245.09 ypg).  The numbers are a product of a superb offensive line.  Wisconsin's front five is tremendous.  Additionally, junior tailback Montee Ball has been unstoppable in 2011, rushing for 133.27 yards per game and scoring a Big Ten record 30 touchdowns (25 rushing).  Senior quarterback Russell Wilson leads the nation in passing efficiency (199.27).  The former N.C. State QB has thrown for 26 touchdowns and just three interceptions.  Senior Nick Toon (47 receptions for 786 yards and eight touchdowns) and sophomore Jared Abbrederis (41 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns) are the top receivers.

The Badger defense is an underrated group that ranks near the top of the nation in several statistical categories.  Wisconsin is third in pass defense (146.82), sixth in total defense (282.27), sixth in scoring defense (15.91) and 10th in pass efficiency defense (109.54).  Linebackers Mike Taylor (121) and Chris Borland (118) lead the team in tackling.  Wisconsin is also ranked No. 5 in the nation in punt returns.

Needless to say, the Badgers are a very talented team with superb numbers to back it up.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The stage was set and Rec Hall was almost filled to capacity as No. 2 Penn State and No.4 Minnesota stepped out onto the mat.

Last season, the Nittany Lions only came out of two of their 19 duals without a win. One of those was a loss to Iowa and the other was a tie with the Gophers. Needless to say, both big ten teams knew that Sunday's dual was going to be an interesting one.

And at the end of the afternoon, it was Minnesota who walked out of Rec Hall with the Big Ten victory by a score of 23-14.

Minnesota Takes Advantage of Momentum
The Gophers took seven of the ten bouts and scored 23 dual points on five wins by decision and two majors while Penn State tallied just 14 points on one decision, one tech fall and one pin.

Nine of the ten starting wrestlers for Minnesota also held top ten rankings, and those experienced Gophers helped to create a streak of dominance early on in the match. Minnesota took the opening three bouts over Penn State as Zach Sanders downed freshman Nico Megaludis by decision at 125, David Thorn majored Nittany Lion junior Derek Reber at 133 and Nick Dardanes majored redshirt freshman Sam Sherlock.

After three bouts against new faces in the Penn State lineup, the Gophers went up 11-0 in the dual and really made their statement early.

The Nittany Lions took three of the next four matchups on the mat, but Minnesota came back again with that same dominance and same momentum at the close of the match and took the final three bouts as well.

All five of Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson's newest wrestlers struggled against the Gophers' charge, but Sanderson credited Minnesota's talented lineup and said that he hopes the loss will provide motivation for his team.

"It was exciting to see those guys continuing to fight throughout the match but [Minnesota] just wrestled well," said Sanderson. "They kind of beat up on us today and we need to come back with some fire and hopefully this gives us a little bit more than we had."

Veterans Provide Spark
The three bouts that the Nittany Lions did take all came at the hands of All-American wrestlers who tried their best to score as many points as possible to keep Penn State in the dual.

After the opening three losses, senior Frank Molinaro came out looking for bonus points against Minnesota's Dylan Ness. But Ness was tough against Molinaro's five takedowns and kept pace with the Nittany Lion, and Molinaro was able to close out the bout just 16-10 for a win by decision.

Sophomores David Taylor and Ed Ruth followed and made statements of their own, defeating their opponents within the first periods of each of their bouts.

Taylor won by a score of 16-1 for a tech fall over Minnesota's Cody Yohn and nabbed five dual points for Penn State. The sophomore handed Yohn four takedowns and tallied seven back points in less than three minutes.

Ruth then took it one step further, pinning Minnesota's Alec Ortiz at the 2:27 mark and gaining another six duals points for the Nittany Lions.

Taylor said that for him, stepping into pressure moments when his team relies on him is something he and his teammates have prepared for.

"That's why you wrestle," said Taylor. "You want to be in those situations. To be able to go out there and know that you need those bonus points to get us back in it within two matches, we're tied in the dual and that's just the ability that we have as a team and that's what is fun. That's what we get ready for."

The Nittany Lions fall to 1-1 this season after the loss to the Gophers, but each of the veterans said that they are confident in the team's ability to pick it up and press on.

"This is a really long season so, better we make mistakes now I guess than in March," said Molinaro. "But I'm confident that these guys will be ready."

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's volleyball team played its last home game of the regular season in winning fashion. After taking the win against Indiana on Friday night 3-0, the Nittany Lions went on to battle back from a first set loss, to overcome No. 5 Purdue 3-1.

"Tonight was a nice win," said head coach Russ Rose. "I thought after starting pretty slow, we picked it up. The fact that we beat [Purdue] both times we played them indicates that we had a couple of good matches against a very fine team."

Sophomore outside hitter Deja McClendon continued to impress on the court, finishing the weekend with a .377 hitting percentage. On Saturday night, McClendon made key plays offensively, triggering runs by the Penn State offense and tallying 18 kills for the night.

"I think Deja started slow but had a great weekend offensively," said Coach Rose. "The third game she was the best hitter in the gym. I thought that was really the key for us.

Friday night Penn State took on Big Ten rival Indiana, never giving up the lead in the first set. An early 8-1 run initiated by a kill from sophomore outside hitter Ariel Scott allowed Penn State to increase their lead to 11-3. The Hoosiers were unable to recover, trailing Penn State by as much as 13 points late in the set.  A final kill by sophomore outside hitter Maddie Martin gave the Nittany Lions the win 25-13.

The second set did not come as easy for Penn State as they battled Indiana for the lead. A kill by Scott put her team out front on the first play, but Indiana quickly recovered, taking the lead 3-2. The Nittany Lions stuck close to the Hoosiers until another kill by Scott allowed Penn State to retake the lead 13-12.  The Hoosier battled closely, but the Nittany Lions held on 25-23.

Set three was much like the first set as Penn State started with a 6-0 run led by a kill from sophomore middle hitter Katie Slay. The Nittany Lions made only one error during the set, dominating offensively to take the win 25-12 with McClendon tallying the final kill.

"I thought our passing was good especially in the first and third games," said Coach Rose. "Deja and A. Scott had a good night hitting and then Lacy coming in and making a couple of serves and dancing, it was nice to have a little energy out there. "

On Saturday night, No. 5 Purdue put up a fight with Penn State as they held the lead throughout much of the first set. Penn State led briefly early, but the Boilermakers out-hit and out-blocked the Nittany Lions. A 6-2 run by the Nittany Lions came all too late as Purdue took the win 25-22.

"I just think it was a slow start," said Martin. "In all aspects of the game we were slow in the beginning but then we turned it around after the first game."

Penn State refused to back down, fighting their way to the lead after losing the first set. The Nittany Lions spread the ball offensively and cut back on their errors which proved to be a success. Penn State ended the game with a 7-2 run closed by a kill from McClendon.

Set three of the night was dominated by Penn State who limited itself to only one error. The team played with great offensive and defensive prowess making three team blocks and tallying a convincing .500 hitting percentage. A 9-1 run in the middle of the set gave the Nittany Lions the momentum they needed to go on and take the set 25-15.

The Nittany Lions knew they could not let up after the third set, McClendon acknowledged, as they vowed to continue playing with the passion they had shown earlier.

"That's been our struggle a lot this year," said McClendon. "We'll come out strong and then we let up and we let teams get back into the game. At the beginning of the fourth game we just set grounds and said we're not letting them get back into this game. We're going to still compete hard and try and win by as much as we can and play a complete game."

The Nittany Lions did just that, continuing to impress offensively led by Slay and Martin. Penn State took advantage of spreading the ball among its hitters, tripping up Purdue and allowing the Nittany Lions to lead the entire set. The crowd was on their feet at set point as Slay and McClendon put up a final block for the night, giving Penn State the win 25-18.

"We need to win and every time we do it just keeps building hope for us," said McClendon. "I think we did a lot of things good today. I relish this. The good things we do just really make me happy."

The Nittany Lions hit the road for the last time in the regular season, playing Ohio State on Wednesday and then travelling to East Lansing where they will play Michigan State on Saturday.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Victories inside Ohio Stadium are not easy to come by.

Coming into Saturday's game the Lions had won in Columbus just twice in 33 years (1978 and 2008).

But it was clear from the moment the Nittany Lions walked off the buses outside the south end of the Horseshoe that they were not going to be denied on Saturday.

Penn State carved through the Buckeye defense en route to a 20-point first half.  From there, the defense took over, holding the elusive Braxton Miller and the Ohio State offense scoreless in the final 35:22.

The Nittany Lion seniors have been tremendous carrying the team through adversity all season long.  Saturday was no exception, as the veterans willed the Nittany Lions to a 20-14 victory over the rival Buckeyes.

Senior tailback Stephfon Green has been a huge part of the Nittany Lion running game during the past two weeks.  Green has rushed for 164 yards and four touchdowns since the bye week.

"I've just been trying to take advantage of my opportunities," Green said. I'm learning from my mistakes, and I'm always trying to get better."

Green busted through a hole on Penn State's opening drive en route to a 39-yard touchdown scamper, which gave the Lions a 7-0 lead.  The New York native has always been a big-play athlete with track-like speed in the open field.  Green said that he just hit the hole and took off during his first touchdown run.

The senior tailback could not have been more appreciative of the efforts from the offensive line following Saturday's victory.  Penn State rushed for 239 yards while averaging 6.1 yards per carry on 39 attempts.

"They played their behinds off up front," Green said.  "I told the seniors, 'hey, you aren't going to get another chance to play the Buckeyes.'  They didn't disappoint.  They went out there and did everything they had to do to get us in the end zone."

Moving to the defensive side of the ball, senior end Jack Crawford had been poised for a breakout game all season long, and it happened on Saturday in Columbus.  The London, England, native was on a mission at the Horseshoe.

"There was a lot of speculation coming into the game asking if we were good enough to win," Crawford said.  "You know, we were watching ESPN before the game and America said that 61 percent of the people said that we weren't going to beat them.  So, we had a point to prove.  The seniors put on a show.  That was special."

Crawford made six tackles against the Buckeyes, including 2.0 sacks.  Crawford and the Lion defense did a nice job containing Miller throughout the afternoon.

"It's always great to get a sack," Crawford said.  "They don't come around too often.  It was really a cat-and-mouse type of game.  He was a very elusive quarterback and we had to get after him.  We had to spy which holes he was going to try and go through.  We needed to have one guy rushing and one guy sitting back a little bit, and that is how I got a couple sacks."

The victory over the Buckeyes pushes the Lions to a 6-1 mark in the Big Ten.  Wisconsin is 5-2 in the conference.  The winner of Saturday's high stakes matchup at Camp Randall Stadium will win the Leaders Division.

A winner-take-all matchup on the final week of the regular season is all the Nittany Lions can ask for.  Saturday's winner will play in the first Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3.

"To have a shot at the Big Ten championship means a lot," Green said.  "We're going to go into Madison with our heads on straight and try and take care of our business."


Stay tuned each week for the Faces of the Game feature where we highlight two Nittany Lions for their efforts on Saturday afternoon.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

Senior Caitlin Lane (Greenwich, N.Y.) and the rest of the No. 21 Nittany Lion women's cross country team will lay it all on the line on Monday, competing at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.  Following a full fall of racing action, the Nittany Lions are set to make a dent in the women's team standings, along with individual men's entrants Kyle Dawson (Coateville, Pa.) and Vince McNally (Paoli, Pa.).

The following is the ninth in a series of blog posts from senior Caitlin Lane. Lane is a team captain, as well as an NCAA all-region standout in cross country, and an NCAA qualifier in track and field. The senior also holds a pair of school records, including the indoor 1,000-meters (2:45.95), and outdoor 4x800-meter relay (8:39.44) outdoors.

It is finally time. NCAA's is tomorrow! It has been a crazy season, one that I will never forget. We've gotten ourselves here and now we need to take advantage of the opportunity we have to be better than we've ever been. When we had our annual dinner at Coach Sullivan's house, we talked about how there are two kinds of people who will be on the line tomorrow. There are the people who are excited to just have the opportunity to race, and then there are the people who will leave everything on the course because they are here on a mission. I believe that we are here on a mission. We've been the team that is excited to be there, but this year, I feel that we are different. We are here to be better than ever.

We arrived in Terre Haute Saturday morning and got comfortable in our hotel before we headed out to the golf course that we've run at the past few years. We just had an easy day with a few strides to get the legs going before we hopped back in the vans to get ready for the banquet! I always enjoy the banquet a lot because I get to dress up! I hardly ever dress up so I always get excited when I get to put on a dress. It is a nice break from the standard shorts and t-shirts that consume most of my wardrobe. The girls, Kyle, Vince and I got out picture taken in front of the NCAA banner and headed downstairs to find our table and grab some grub. The food was great, as always, and I got to see one of my best friends from home. My prom date, Brian Rhodes-Devey! I love seeing old friends and getting to catch up, even if it is just for a few minutes.

The banquet was long but was one I will remember. Living legend, Frank Shorter spoke to everyone about his experiences and race strategy. While he told us not to necessarily take his advice, it was a great experience to hear from someone I've looked up to and known about since I was a little kid. I'd say that this years' speaker was my favorite, I'm sure my dad is really jealous!

This morning we headed to the Nike Hospitality Suite. Nike is always so great and provides us with amazing gear. The headband and gloves were a hit and I will wear them everyday this winter. After Nike, we headed to the course for pre-meet. The ladies rocked our new hot pink Nike top while the guys wore their sweet new jackets. Not going to lie, we looked really good. Pre-meet went great and the course, while a tiny but muddy, was in great shape.

It is truly unbelievable to think that NCAA's is finally here. This season has been so special to me, and I am sad that tomorrow it all comes to an end. I know I am going to go out with a bang and leave everything out there for my teammates. We've worked so hard and we are ready to make some noise tomorrow. We will be rocking our spiffy, white uniforms so while you are all watching the live feed on NCAA.com you can look for us! WE ARE!

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head into the media room for comments from head coach Cael Sanderson, David Taylor, Ed Ruth and Frank Molinaro following Sunday's 23-14 setback to No. 4 Minnesota.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to Rec Hall for the first Big Ten dual match of the 2011-'12 season for the defending national champion Nittany Lion wrestling team.

Today, Penn State opens the Big Ten season against No. 4 Minnesota in front of a standing room only crowd at Rec Hall.  We are mat-side for all the action.  Stay tuned for updates after every match this afternoon.

Take a look back at the opening dual of the 2011 Big Ten season.

125: #2 Zach Sanders Defeats #18 Nico Megaludis
Freshman Nico Megaludis battled second-ranked Zach Sanders to a hard-fought 6-2 decision in the first match of the dual.  Sanders tallied one takedown during the first period, while Megaludis notched an escape.  Sanders really took control of the bout in the second period.  The Minnesota senior took more than 2:00 of riding time into the third period.  Megaludis is now 1-1 on the season.  With the win, the Gophers took a 3-0 lead in the match.

133: #7 David Thorn Majors Derek Reber
Minnesota sophomore David Thorn took control of the 133-pound bout early in the first period.  The seventh-ranked Thorn tallied three takedowns in the opening period en route to a 6-3 lead.  He took 2:39 of riding time and an 11-4 advantage into the third period.  From there, Thorn tallied a 14-5 major decision over Reber, who is 1-1 on the season.  Minnesota took a 7-0 overall lead in the match.

141: #10 Nick Dardanes Majors Sam Sherlock

149: #1 Frank Molinaro Outlasts #5 Dylan Ness

157: #9 Jake Dietchler Defeats #11 Dylan Alton

174: #2 Ed Ruth Pins Alec Ortiz

184: #6 Kevin Steinhaus Defeats #1 Quentin Wright

Golden Gopher sophomore Kevin Steinhaus and defending national champion Quentin Wright are no strangers to one another.  The duo has wrestled five times in the past year.  Steinhaus got the better of Wright on Sunday afternoon with a 6-1 decision.  After a scoreless first period, Steinhaus took a 2-1 lead into the third period.  From there, he added a takedown, an escape and riding time to claim the five-point victory.  The match proved to be a crucial one in the overall match.  Minnesota led 17-14 heading into the final two weights.

197: #2 Sonny Yohn Edges #10 Morgan McIntosh
Freshman standout Morgan McIntosh battled to a narrow setback in the final seconds against second-ranked Sonny Yohn from Minnesota.  The duo battled to a scoreless first period before McIntosh managed an escape just seven seconds into the second period.  After working on a takedown for nearly three periods, McIntosh finally got the takedown he had been working towards in the third.  With a 3-1 lead, the Lion freshman yielded two escape points to set the score at 3-2.  But with fewer than 10 seconds on the clock, Yohn tallied his first takedown of the match to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory.  It was a superb bout between two very talented wrestlers.  Nonetheless, the key victory put the Gophers up 20-14 on the scoreboard.

285: #3 Tony Nelson Defeats #4 Cameron Wade

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions rushed for 239 yards and held Ohio State scoreless in the second half en route to clinching a share of the Leaders Division with a 20-14 road victory over the Buckeyes.

With the win, the Nittany Lions are now set to take on Wisconsin in a winner-take-all matchup for a berth to the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday in Madison.  GoPSUsports.com caught up with several players in the locker room at Ohio Stadium following the big victory.  Take a look.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State interim head coach Tom Bradley addressed a full media room at Ohio Stadium following Saturday's 20-14 victory over the Buckeyes.

Head into the room to see what Coach Bradley had to say after the Lions clinched a share of the Leaders Division crown on Saturday.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Welcome to Ohio Stadium for gameday coverage of a crucial Big Ten Leaders Division clash between Penn State and Ohio State.

GoPSUsports.com will provide in-game coverage from all 12 contests during the fall.  Today, Penn State is in Columbus for a pivotal division matchup.

Stay tuned throughout gameday for updates from the press box as things transpire.

1:00 p.m. - Good Afternoon

The stage is set for a pivotal Leaders Division matchup between rivals Penn State and Ohio State.  The Nittany Lions head to Columbus seeking a victory to clinch at least a share of the division title.  The Buckeyes need a win on Senior Day to stay alive in the division race, as well.  Neither team can afford to lose.  Welcome to a high stakes battle in Columbus.

1:15 p.m. - Weather Report

It will be a very pleasant day for football in the Horseshoe this afternoon.  After a sunny start to the day, the game will kick off with a high layer of clouds overhead, but temperatures are well into the 50s.  There is a fairly stiff breeze blowing, which could play a role in the kicking game.  Nonetheless, the weather is very good for November football.

1:30 p.m. - Playing in the Horseshoe

It is always challenging to play in Ohio Stadium.  The Lions are 6-9 all-time at the Horseshoe.  Penn State's most recent two wins in Columbus came in 1978 and 2008.  Both of those games came when the Ohio State started a true freshman quarterback (Art Schlichter in 1978 and Terrelle Pryor 2008).  The Buckeyes will start another true freshman quarterback on Saturday.

1:45 p.m. - Fan Response

The Penn State players received a resounding cheer when they stepped off the buses at the team hotel on Friday night.  More than two dozen Nittany Lion fans were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the team.  It was a tremendous response from Nittany Nation.

2:00 p.m. - Turnovers Key

Since 2002, Ohio State's defense has intercepted a Penn State pass and returned it for a touchdown seven times in five games.  All five contests resulted in Buckeye victories.  Avoiding turnovers is at the top of the offensive gameplan for Matt McGloin and the Nittany Lion offense.  On defense, the Lions have forced 23 turnovers through 10 games in 2011.  Turnovers will likely play a huge role in the outcome.

2:30 p.m. - Playoff Mentality

Penn State can clinch the Leaders Division with a victory today and a Wisconsin loss at Illinois.  Regardless of what happens today, the Nittany Lions control their own destiny for a spot in the Big Ten Championship game with two victories.  As the team stepped off the bus around 2 p.m. this afternoon, it needs to treat this matchup like the first of two playoff games.

2:45 p.m. - Redd Set to Go

After missing time last weekend with a sprained joint connecting his collarbone to his chest plate, Silas Redd did not participate in any contact drills this week.  He is ready play this afternoon, and Redd will play a big role for the Nittany Lion offense as it looks to establish the running game against a very talented Ohio State defense.

3:00 p.m. - Quick Start

Penn State's offense needs to strike early this afternoon.  Keep an eye out for a few new wrinkles from the offense today, but putting points on the board early is crucial.  The Lions want to put pressure on freshman quarterback Braxton Miller.

3:15 - Heading to the Field

Halftime - Penn State 20, Ohio State 14

4:51 3rd Quarter - Big Stand at the Goal Line

End 3rd Quarter - Penn State 20, Ohio State 14

FINAL - Penn State 20, Ohio State 14

Neither team scored in the second half, but the Nittany Lions moved to 9-2 and clinched a share of Leaders Division title with a superb victory on Saturday night.  From the moment the Nittany Lions stepped off the buses on Saturday, they had a look in their eye that they were not going to lose.  That translated over into 17 points on the Lions' first three offensive drives.  Penn State scored points on four of its five first half drives (the fifth resulted in an interception).  Penn State averaged 6.1 yards per carry on 39 rushing attempts for 239 yards.  Senior tailback Stephfon Green scored twice, including a 39-yard scamper.  Curtis Drake and Bill Belton played a central role in a new-look wildcat offense.  Penn State's defense held the Buckeyes to just 289 yards and zero points in the second half.  This group of Lions has faced more adversity than you could imagine this season, but the group collectively stepped up for a team victory at the Horseshoe.  Since 1978, the Lions have won in Columbus just three times.  All three games (1978, 2008, 2011) came against freshman quarterbacks.  Penn State now shifts its focus towards a winner-take-all matchup at Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.

COLUMBUS, Ohio. - Welcome to the Gameday Photo Blog from Ohio Stadium.  Stay tuned throughout Saturday for updated images from Penn State's crucial game at rival Ohio State.

Ohio Stadium.

On the field at the Horseshoe.

The press box at Ohio Stadium.

The Penn State lockers await the Lions.

High above Ohio Stadium.

The Nittany Lions heading into the stadium.

D'Anton Lynn and Brandon Beachum heading into the stadium.

Penn State taking the field.

Devon Still all business.

Matt McGloin warming up.

The defensive backs.

Chaz Powell

In the huddle.

Devon Still and Quinn Barham leading the lines onto the field.

One of the great college football traditions.

The Nittany Lions taking the field.

The Nittany Lion offense.

Matt McGloin under center.

The Penn State defense set to take the field.

The Nittany Lion defense.

Penn State rushing the passer.

Interim head coach Tom Bradley looking on.

Penn State wide receiver Derek Moye.

Freshman wide out Bill Belton in the wildcat formation.

The Nittany Lion defense.

Matt McGloin under center.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In the 2010-'11 season, the Penn State wrestling squad finished with a conference record of 6-1-1. Six wins, one loss and one tie.

But for 184 pound defending national champion Quentin Wright, the record might as well have read 6-2-0.

"You think of a tie as a loss just because no one really won," said Wright.

That one match that ended up in a tie last season came in the second to last dual of the season when the Nittany Lions traveled to meet the Minnesota Gophers. Five Penn State wrestlers won their matches and the other five of them lost, knotting the score at 18 apiece and ending the dual in a tie.

This season, the Nittany Lions said that anything less than a win over the Gophers just won't be enough.

No. 2 Penn State hosts No. 4 Minnesota in Rec Hall on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. for just the second match of the 2011-'12 regular season.

Last week, the Lions defeated Bloomsburg by a score of 39-3 and dealt the Huskies three pins, one tech fall, one major decision and four decisions. Penn State's fresh line-up of both old and new showed their ability to dominate against a tough team, but knows that their competition is only going to get tougher from here on out.

Of the 20 wrestlers that will be on the mat Sunday afternoon, 18 of those hold a top-20 national ranking. Eight of those wrestlers wear the blue and white singlets for Penn State while the other ten wrestle for Minnesota.

Senior Frank Molinaro said that while the rankings are not something that he and his teammates think about, he knows that the Gophers are going to be top-notch competition.

"The rankings don't really mean anything but this dual meet does mean a lot though because we don't want to take it lightly," said Molinaro. "We just want to make sure that we're prepared, warmed up and ready to go."

The veteran 149-pounder said that because of the consistent talent throughout both lineups, he and the rest of the Nittany Lions will be focusing more on their own particular styles of wrestling rather than concentrating on the whole group.

"This is a big match so I think it's going to be a little bit different preparing individually," said Molinaro. "There are some big match-ups. Their whole team is good so, the only difference is that guys will be working on individual stuff a little bit during the week to kind of prepare for the match."

For Wright, the outcome of last season's match is still the main idea that is fueling his motivation for success against Minnesota. The last time that Penn State wrestled the Gophers, Wright fell to then freshman Kevin Steinhaus by a major decision of 10-1.

Wright will most likely see Steinhaus again this weekend, and he is looking forward to getting back a win for his team.

"Everybody had an opportunity to win that match by getting one more point here or one more point there," said Wright. "It would have made a difference in the whole match so this year we're going to be focused on going in for a dogfight."

Be sure to head to Rec Hall on Sunday afternoon to watch the Nittany Lions take on their first Big Ten competition of the season, and stick around after the match for a special guest appearance by four-time All-American and former Penn State wrestler Phil Davis.

VIDEO: Coach Bradley Preview of Ohio State

VIDEO: Coach Bradley One-on-One Interview

Big Ten Title Game Clinching Scenarios

Around the Big Ten - Week 12

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 21st-ranked Nittany Lions (8-2, 5-1) head on the road for a critical Leaders Division matchup at border rival Ohio State on Saturday inside Ohio Stadium (3:30 ABC/ESPN).

Penn State will be looking to bounce back following a hard-fought 17-14 setback to Nebraska last week.  The Nittany Lions are 15-3 in its next game after a loss since the start of the 2005 season.  Additionally, the Lions are 3-0 on the road this season and 13-4 away from Beaver Stadium since 2008.

Ohio State enters the game needing a victory to stay alive in the Big Ten Leaders Division race, while the Nittany Lions can clinch at least a share of the division crown with a victory.  Both Penn State and Ohio State are members of the 800-win club in college football history.  The stage is set for a high stakes matchup between two rivals.

Welcome to Penn State-Ohio State gameday.

Pregame Reading:
What to Watch For - Penn State

1.  Since 2002, Ohio State's defense has intercepted a Penn State pass and returned it for a touchdown seven times in five games.  All five contests resulted in Buckeye victories.  Avoiding turnovers is at the top of the offensive gameplan for Matt McGloin and the Nittany Lion offense.  On defense, the Lions have forced 23 turnovers through 10 games in 2011.  Keep an eye on the turnovers for both teams, which could play a significant factor in the final outcome.

2.  Penn State's defense has been tremendous throughout 2011.  The Lions rank among the nation's elite in four major defensive categories.  Led by Nagurski Award finalist Devon Still, Penn State's front seven will face the challenge of defending Ohio State running back Dan "Boom" Herron.  The senior has rushed for 480 yards and two touchdowns in just four appearances this season.  Herron rushed for 190 yards against the Nittany Lions last season in Columbus.  Limiting Herron's production and forcing freshman quarterback Braxton Miller to move the chains with his arm will be key for the Nittany Lions.

3.  The Nittany Lion offense will be looking to establish its running game early to open up opportunities through the air as the game wears on.  Keep an eye out for Penn State's ability to move the chains and pick up first downs.  McGloin and the Lions do not want to be in third-and-long situations.  Setting up manageable third down situations begins with effectiveness from Silas Redd, Stephfon Green and Brandon Beachum on the ground.  And for the second straight week, keep an eye out for new wrinkles in the Penn State offensive scheme.

What to Watch For - Ohio State
1.  Look for Miller and Herron to carry the load on offense, literally, for the Buckeyes.  Ohio State wants to pound the ball on the ground with two of its best athletes.  Herron has been tremendous since he returned, and interim head coach Tom Bradley stressed the importance of holding Miller in check.  The Buckeyes average 200 rushing yards per game.  Keep an eye on the play of the offensive line and Herron, who has averaged 5.4 yards per carry this season.

2.  The Ohio State offense will receive a big boost with the addition senior wide out DeVier Posey, who will see the field for the first time in 2011.  Ohio State's passing game is currently led by tight end Jake Stoneburner, who has 12 receptions for 150 yards and six touchdowns this season.  Posey is a big-play athlete every time he steps onto the field.  He has caught a pass in 27 straight games he has appeared in.  Posey made 53 catches for 848 yards and seven scores in 2010.  It is unclear whether or not Posey will start, but the Nittany Lion secondary must keep a close eye on the former All-Big Ten standout.

3.  Coming off an overtime loss at Purdue, Ohio State will be desperate for a victory on Senior Day at the Horseshoe.  The Buckeyes do not want to be staring at a 6-5 record heading into its rivalry game at Michigan next weekend.  It will be interesting to see how Ohio State handles the circumstances of having its back to the wall.  Additionally, with two wins and some help, the Buckeyes are still alive for a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Gameday Rundown
Breaking Down the Injuries:
Penn State: TE Garry Gilliam (knee) - Out, DE Pete Massaro (knee) - Out, LB Michael Mauti (knee) - Out, TB Silas Redd (shoulder - Probable, RB Pat Zerbe (knee) - Out
Ohio State: No published injury report

The Game:
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ABC/ESPN - Brad Nessler (PBP), Todd Blackledge (Analyst), Holly Rowe (Sidelines), Tom Rinaldi (Sidelines)
Radio: Penn State Sports Network - Steve Jones (PBP), Jack Ham (Analyst)
Online: GoPSUsports.com
Stadium: Ohio Stadium (102,329) - FieldTurf
Coaches: Tom Bradley - 0-1, 1st season
Luke Fickell - 6-4, 1st season
The Series: Ohio State, 14-12


The Final Word:
Penn State begins a two-game, road playoff in Columbus with a critical matchup with rival Ohio State.  With two victories in the next two weeks, the Nittany Lions will play in the first Big Ten Football Championship game.  However, like they have throughout the season, the Lions are taking things one game at a time.  Playing at Ohio State has its fair share of challenges.  Penn State knows that it needs to execute on both sides of the ball to score a victory.  The game could likely turn into a low-scoring battle between two very good defenses, but turnovers may be the decisive factor.  Penn State needs to play a mistake-free game on offense.  Keep an eye on the battle in the trenches for both teams, as the Nittany Lions will look to open up the passing game with effective play on the ground.  All of the little things are important on the road - limiting third-and-long situations, solid play in the kicking game, avoiding mistakes, getting off to a quick start.  It's Penn State-Ohio State in the Horseshoe in a critical Big Ten matchup.  Tune in at 3:30 p.m.

Be on the lookout for the Gameday Photo Blog and live in-Game Blog from Ohio Stadium on Saturday.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion men's basketball team (3-0) travels to Connecticut for the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament this weekend.  First up is a clash with No. 2 Kentucky on Saturday at noon (ESPN3).

GoPSUsports.com sat down with assistant coach Brian Daly earlier this week for a video scouting report of the second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats.  Watch to see what Coach Daly has to say leading up to Saturday's game.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Deja McClendon stands by the net, eyes focused, following the ball with intense concentration. Bump. Set. Spike. She pounds the ball over the net, tallying another kill.

Whether she is on the back line digging the ball or making key offensive plays, the six-foot-one outside hitter has worked hard this season to become a constant presence on the court for the Penn State women's volleyball team. Last week McClendon accomplished just that, being recognized as the Big Ten Player of the Week for her performances against Illinois and Northwestern.

"It's awesome to be recognized," said McClendon. "It's nice to play well for a week and to have those good games offensively especially because I haven't been playing my best. I feel like I haven't been doing as much as I should be for our team and having those two good games I think really helped me out."

After a breakout year as a freshman, McClendon has worked throughout this season to adjust to her role as a primary player on the team. With six seniors graduating last year, the transition has not been easy, but after last week it seems McClendon has finally hit her stride.

"It's been really hard for me to adjust from being a secondary player to being more of a role player," said McClendon. "It was tough to figure out where I fit in, but now that I know what my job is, I think it's easier. I think I've learned a lot but at the same time it's hard to perform consistently every week."

In last week's games against Big Ten conference teams Illinois and Northwestern, McClendon averaged just over two digs per set and closed the week with a .395 hitting percentage. For McClendon, this was much needed as she has struggled in past weeks with her offensive performances.

"She's always working hard to get better," said sophomore outside hitter Darcy Dorton. "To have that focus and maintain that focus every day is something that's worth praise, so it's great that she's gotten that recognition."

McClendon's dedication and focus is apparent on the court as she moves with the upmost precision, working to stay one step ahead of the opposing team. She knows what is expected, and each week, she works hard to improve as a player.

"My main focus is to be more of a leader in a sense of getting the job done," said McClendon. "Maybe I'm not the most vocal on the team, or the loudest, but I can do my job in the game and try to be dependable. I can try to be a person that my team can rely on to put the ball away or to make a pass or to get a dig."

The Penn State women's volleyball team returns home this weekend with a match Friday night against Indiana and a match Saturday night against No. 5 Purdue. McClendon hopes to carry on her own success from last week as she looks forward to returning to Rec Hall.

"I think that momentum that we had after playing the Northwestern game we saw as a team," said McClendon. "I think using that and bringing it into this weekend is something that's going to be really exciting especially because it's our last home game of the season."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As we do each week, the GoPSUsports.com Football Blog takes a look at all of the Big Ten games on the schedule.  There are six conference matchups this week.  In all, five Big Ten teams are currently ranked in the BCS.

 
#17 Wisconsin (8-2, 4-2) at Illinois (6-4, 2-4) - Noon - ESPN2
Penn State fans will be watching the matchup between the Badgers and Illini at Memorial Stadium with keen interest.  Wisconsin controls its own destiny for a Leaders Division title with two victories.  The Badgers have played much better at home than they have on the road, but Illinois has lost four-straight games.  The Illini defense will need to slow down Russell Wilson in the passing game.  Additionally, Montee Ball has been a touchdown machine for the Badger running game.  Illinois desperately needs a victory to get back on track, but Wisconsin has much more to play for.

#16 Nebraska (8-2, 4-2) at #18 Michigan (8-2, 4-2) - Noon - ESPN
Two national powers will collide at Michigan Stadium with significant Legends Division and BCS at-large implications on the line.  Nebraska comes into the game playing very well after a physical victory on the road in Happy Valley.  Keep an eye on Cornhusker running back Rex Burkhead against the Michigan defense.  Michigan QB Denard Robinson needs a big game against Lavonte David and the Nebraska defensive unit.  This has the potential to be a very interesting matchup in Ann Arbor.  Neither team can afford another loss as they both pursue a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Indiana (1-9, 0-6) at #15 Michigan State (8-2, 5-1) - Noon - BTN
Michigan State's senior class will be honored before Saturday's kickoff in East Lansing.  This is a group of players with more victories than any other group of seniors in Spartan football history.  The leader of the group is quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has thrown for 2,249 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011.  Led by freshman quarterback Tre Roberson, Indiana is a squad that Michigan State will not take lightly as it closes in on a Legends Division crown and a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Minnesota (2-8, 1-5) at Northwestern (5-5, 2-4) - Noon - BTN
Since losing five-straight games, Northwestern has rattled off three victories to vault back into the picture for becoming bowl eligible.  Wildcats quarterback Dan Persa, along with wide out Jeremy Ebert, will provide a big challenge for the Golden Gopher secondary.  Minnesota is playing much better football than it was during the beginning of the season, and quarterback MarQueis Gray is healthy.  Nonetheless, Northwestern's offense should find a way to put points on the board at home.

Iowa (6-4, 3-3) at Purdue (5-5, 3-3) - Noon - BTN
The Boilermakers have battled their way to one victory shy of becoming bowl eligible.  Purdue knocked off Ohio State last week, and the Boilers will have plenty of confidence on Senior Day in Ross-Ade Stadium.  Iowa is 0-3 on the road this season.  Look for Marcus Coker and James Vandenberg to rebound after a 37-21 setback to Michigan State last week.  However, Purdue is playing very good football right now.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fourth-seeded and 13th-ranked Penn State women's soccer team (20-4-0) emerged from its 1-0 victory against Army last Friday night amped and ready for its second round bout against No. 12 Marquette (18-3-0).  The players brought the energy to practice this week and have shown that they are set to compete on the national stage.

"Everybody's just so pumped up and so psyched and ready to go," said freshman midfielder Kori Chapic.  "We flipped on that other gear and we felt it [Tuesday] at practice, so I think that we're ready."

"I honestly think this was the best training session of the year," added head coach Erica Walsh.

The team's enthusiasm showed in each and every drill.  The players were running relentlessly and communicating on a constant basis.  Mistakes were few and far between.  The coaches responded by pushing them harder, challenging them to exceed their previous accomplishments.  Not a single player faltered.  They merely encouraged each other more and upped their game to the next level.  It was the seniors who were at the heart of the endeavor.

"They're a great inspiration," said Chapic.  "After our last game at home there were just tears in their eyes and it's very inspiring, especially as a freshman, to see how much heart they have for Jeffrey Field, for Penn State, and for the rest of their teammates."

As the players have entered the postseason, realization has dawned on many of them, particularly the seniors, that the next game could be their last.  The concept of 'win or go home' has fueled an intense determination that they have brought onto the field.

"It's the NCAA tournament and everyone knows if you lose you're out," said senior midfielder Ali Schaefer.  "You don't know what to expect.  You just know that you're going to give everything you have every game."

"We have to go into every single game with the highest expectations," added Chapic.  "We have to come in with our minds in the right places."

Penn State faces a difficult challenge this weekend in the form of a Marquette team that has shown both a balanced attack and a stout defense with 13 shutouts on the season including a 1-0 win in the first round of the tournament against Toledo.  Coach Walsh sees the game as a quality test for Penn State going forward.

"We're going to need to be sharp to get a result against this Marquette team and I think that's exactly what you need at this point," said Walsh.

Every game for the rest of the tournament will be a fight and every team will bring different challenges to the table.  It's up to the players to adapt and find a way through the adversity. The Nittany Lions know what to expect and they have been well prepared.

"We are preparing ourselves for a battle each and every day," said Schaefer.  "Every competitor that we're going to face from here on out is going to be difficult and we're expecting to go in full force."

After watching her team in practice this week, coach Walsh couldn't be more proud.

"After three hard months these guys are in a fantastic place," grinned Walsh.  "I couldn't ask for anything more out of them, their commitment, their unity, their dedication, I am so impressed with this group."

The Nittany Lions look to break the second round barrier that has plagued the team in the NCAA tournament for the past couple of years and the players are confident that their time has come.

"This is our year," said Schaefer.  "We've been doing wonderfully.  All the goals we've set we've achieved, so winning on Friday is just going to be one more check on our list."

"There's a different level of determination right now than I've ever seen in this team," added coach Walsh.

The game will take place at 5 p.m. Friday evening in Winston-Salem, N.C. Should the Lions advance they will face the winner between Wake Forest and Boston University.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Border rivals Penn State (8-2, 5-1) and Ohio State (6-4, 3-3) will collide for the 27th times on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. inside Ohio Stadium.

The two foes have met 22 times since 1975 with the higher ranked team winning 20 of the 22 games.  Both teams have Big Ten title game implications riding on Saturday's pivotal game.  The two football programs are among just eight FBS teams nationally that have won 800 games all-time.

Interim head coach Tom Bradley spent time talking with GoPSUsports.com about preparing for this season's Buckeyes earlier this week.  Penn State will face the challenge of defending athletic true freshman quarterback Braxton Miller on Saturday.  Senior tailback Dan "Boom" Herron has been dominant since he returned from suspension, averaging 120 yards per game during the last four games.  Additionally, former All-Big Ten senior wide out DeVier Posey will be on the field for the first time in 2011.

Defensively, Ohio State ranks 15th nationally in total defense.  Coach Bradley knows the Lions will face a stiff test from the Buckeye defensive unit.  It is always challenging to play in Ohio Stadium.  The Lions are 6-9 all-time at the Horseshoe.  Penn State's most recent two wins in Columbus came in 1978 and 2008.  Both of those games came when the Ohio State started a true freshman quarterback (Art Schlichter in 1978 and Terrelle Pryor 2008).  The Buckeyes will start another true freshman quarterback on Saturday.

Take a look at an Ohio State preview interview with Coach Bradley.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Everyone on the Penn State men's hoops coaching staff knew that Wednesday's non-conference tilt with Long Island in the Jordan Center was going to be a stiff test.

Playing in their third game in five nights, the Nittany Lions embraced the physical challenge and battled their way to a hard-fought victory over a solid Long Island team.

Wednesday night's game was a high tempo, back-and-forth affair for 40 minutes.  Every time the Nittany Lions appeared to be on their way to a comfortable lead, the Blackbirds battled back.

But each time Long Island surged, Penn State pulled itself off the mat with an answer.  The Lions ultimately finished the game on a 21-8 run to seal a 77-68 victory and a 3-0 start to the Patrick Chambers era of Nittany Lion basketball.

"We told them how good this team was going into the game and I thought our guys really respected this team," Coach Chambers said.  "They really have a lot of talent. We were down four and that is where attitude comes in. That is where you are trying to handle adversity."

Long Island guard C.J. Garner tallied a field goal with 8:22 to play, giving the Blackbirds a 60-56 advantage.  The basket capped off a 5-0 run for LIU after Penn State had led 56-55 with 10:22 to play.

The Nittany Lions wasted little time answering.  Senior Cam Woodyard stepped up like a seasoned veteran scoring four points and pulling down a pair of rebounds to help fuel a rally.  Junior forward Billy Oliver knocked down a pair of clutch 3-pointers, including one that put the Lions up 72-64 with 2:57 to play.

Simply put, the Nittany Lions collectively stepped up on both ends of the floor and did whatever was necessary to win.

"They showed me something," Coach Chambers said.  "Some of my teams in years past, when you're at home and you're losing they might fold the tents.  They might have ended up losing by 10 or 15 points, but not tonight.  They showed me a little something.  They showed me some grit.  They showed me some heart.  It is great to see Tim [Frazier], Cam [Woodyard], Billy [Oliver] and Sasa [Boronvjak] - the four guys who have been here the longest. It was nice to see them step up."

For the second straight game, Frazier was tremendous.  The junior point guard poured in 26 points on just 18 shot attempts to go along with 10 assists, five rebounds, two steals and one block.  The way Frazier gets everyone on the team involved is superb.

The Texas native creates opportunities for everyone on the floor.

"Tim was terrific," said Coach Chambers.  "He was a great leader tonight. He took big shots and made big shots.  He wanted the basketball down the stretch. He got crucial steals, got big rebounds and took a big charge.  He did everything you ask your point guard to do tonight."

Coach Chambers joked after Frazier's 20-point, 10-assist outing on Monday against Radford that he was looking for more out of his junior point guard.

What did he think of Frazier's 26-point, 10-assist game on Wednesday?

"He missed a couple bunnies," joked Coach Chambers.  "He could have had 32 points.  I'm greedy and I told you I am greedy (laughter)."

The Nittany Lions head on the road for the first time this season with two games at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament in Connecticut.  The first is a matchup with No. 2 Kentucky on Saturday at Noon.  With a 3-0 mark, Coach Chambers just wants to continue to see improvement.

"They are a great team, (John Calipari) is a great coach and it is a great program with a lot of tradition," Coach Chambers said.  "It is the next game on our schedule and we need to take steps.  We took another step today by beating areal good team, tomorrow is another step, Friday is another step. Saturday we need to keep tapping at that stone until it breaks."


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Two games at the Bryce Jordan Center have equaled two wins so far this season for the Penn State Lady Lions.  And they are hoping the season's first stretch of road games does nothing to stop that streak from continuing. 

With three scheduled teams in the next week and a half (and one match up in a tournament to be determined), the Lions are ready to face different styles and some of the toughest teams they have faced this season, including an early national player of the year candidate. 

Coach Coquese Washington is happy with the way the team has looked so far on the young season.

"I liked that we have won," Washington said on the first two games.  "I like that our defense is definitely showing improvements and going in the right direction, and I like the energy."

The Lions and Washington are going to need that defensive effort and energy to stop that national player of the year candidate mentioned above, Elena Delle Donne, and the Delaware Blue Hens who the Lions will battle Thursday night. 

"She can score, she presents a challenge with her size and skill set," Washington said on Della Donne.  "She's a 6'5" guard and that's a tough cover, she's definitely going to challenge our defense."

As the Lions get ready to face Delle Donne, and moving forward, focusing on communication will be key to their success on the defensive end of the floor. 

"We're playing a number of different defenses and it all comes down to how we communicate," Washington said.  "That's got to improve game by game."

On top of that defensive effort and intensity the team is hoping to keep working on the offensive end to get easy shots to help prevent what has happen the first two games, where they have been behind at the break before using a second half run to pull out the win. 

"I think if we get a few more easy shots our shooting percentage will go up." Washington said on a group that has only shot 35 percent on the season. 

Penn State will need a strong offensive attack of their own to help counter having to play four games on the road, with each presenting different challenges. 

Moving on from that first matchup the Lions will then travel down to South Carolina for a game Sunday and then out to Reno, Nevada for two games in a tournament (one against Iowa State and one matchup to be determined.)

Each team on the upcoming trip will be a different matchup for the Lions.    

"With Delaware you've got Elena Delle Donne and a high powered offense, South Carolina is a smaller physical team, they're very good defensively, and then you go to Iowa State and they are a big three-point shooting team." Washington said.  "It's three different styles of play, three different opponents, three different games."

"The whole thing about going on the road is focus," the coach added.  Also saying she thinks this team will be able to handle the stretch well.

With the strong defense and a confident group of coaches and players the Lady Lions will be ready to go out and perform no matter who and where they are playing.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back at the running blog from Penn State's 77-68 victory over Long Island on Wednesday night.  Penn State is 3-0 heading into Saturday's clash against No. 2 Kentucky.

Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com in-game blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.

We will bring you coverage from tonight's matchup between Penn State (2-0) and the Long Island Blackbirds (0-2) inside the Bryce Jordan Center.  The Nittany Lions and Blackbirds will meet for the fourth time.  Long Island went 27-6 and played in the NCAA Tournament last season.

This is the second game of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.  The Lions travel to Connecticut for weekend matchups against No. 2 Kentucky and Old Dominion or South Florida for the remainder of the tournament.

Check back throughout the game for updates at every media timeout.

Starting Lineups

Penn State: G - Frazier, G - Lewis, F - Woodyard, F - Oliver, F - Borovnjak

First Half:

15:50 - Penn State 12, Long Island 6

11:15 - Penn State 15, Long Island 15

7:38 - Penn State 21, Long Island 17

A pair of superb passes from Jermaine Marshall to Jon Graham resulted in two easy baskets for the redshirt freshman forward.  Frazier tallied two free throws to reach double figures for the third time this season, and the Nittany Lions lead by four.  Matt Glover sent the teams into the media timeout with a diving deflection.  Coach Chambers and the bench erupted.  Those types of hustle plays are a big part of what Penn State basketball is all about.

3:46 - Penn State 30, Long Island 27

After Long Island took a 17-15 lead on a Julian Boyd basket, the Nittany Lions rattled off 12 of the game's next 14 points.  Graham accounted for six of the 12 tallies, which put the Lions up 27-19.  However, the Blackbirds answered with back-to-back threes and an 8-0 run of their own to knot the game at 27-27.  Freshman Trey Lewis rattled home a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Lions back on top.

0:00 - Penn State 36, Long Island 36

Tim Frazier picked up his second foul of the half and sat for five minutes during the opening 20 minutes.  However, the Penn State bench built a six-point edge with under 2:00 to play.  Freshman forward Ross Travis provided a nice spark with two points, two rebounds and a block late in the half.  Each time the Nittany Lions built a lead, Long Island answered with a run.  The Blackbirds closed the half with six unanswered points to send the teams into the locker room tied at 36-36.  Both teams got off to a hot start, but finished shooting 39 percent.  Frazier led the way with 12 tallies, while Graham finished with six points and five boards.

Second Half:

14:58 - Penn State 49, Long Island 46

Led by Frazier, the Nittany Lions busted out of the gate in the second half en route to a 44-36 lead just 107 seconds into the period.  The Lion point guard scored eight of Penn State's first 11 points in the half.  Despite leading by eight, though, the Lions yielded a pair of 3-pointers, which allowed the Blackbirds to get right back in the game.  Give Long Island credit for scoring in bunches just when the Nittany Lions appear to be taking control of the ballgame.  Frazier has 19 points and six assists on the night as Penn State leads by three.

11:55 - Long Island 53, Penn State 51

The Blackbirds used an 11-2 spurt to claim their first lead since mid-way through the first half.  Long Island did a nice job knocking down its open looks during the scoring surge to claw back in front of the Lions.  Frazier answered with a kiss off the glass in the paint, but Gerell Martin's third 3-pointer of the game put LIU on top, 53-51.  Penn State will be looking to do a better job limiting open looks down the stretch.

7:35 - Long Island 60, Penn State 56

The big story from the game thus far is the disparity at the foul line.  Long Island has attempted 27 free throws, making 19.  The Nittany Lions have been to the line 11 (9-11) times.  Credit Long Island for being aggressive on the offensive end of the floor.  Coach Chambers talked about the Lions needing to get to the charity stripe more often after Monday's game.  Penn State is just 5-for-20 from 3-point range.  It goes without saying that the Lions need to find a way to get into the paint more often down the stretch.

3:55 - Penn State 68, Long Island 64

In tight ballgames, teams always tend to turn to the veterans for big plays.  Woodyard is a four-year veteran in the program, and he accounted for a sequence of huge plays to draw the Lions in front of Long Island.  Woodyard scored six straight tallies before a big 3-pointer from Oliver and another by Matt Glover.  Penn State manufactured a 10-2 run to claim a 66-62 lead with 5:00 to play.  Woodyard has 13 points on the night, one tally off of his career high.  The Lions lead by four with Borovnjak headed to the foul line after the media timeout.

0:00 - Penn State 77, Long Island 68

The Nittany Lions closed the game on a 21-8 scoring spurt to finish off a solid Long Island squad.  The Blackbirds took a 60-56 edge with 8:22 to play, but did not scored a field goal for the rest of the game.  Long Island registered six free throws, but the Lions did a superb job on the defensive end of the floor.  Additionally, Frazier was again tremendous with a career-high 26 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, two steals and one block.  Woodyard finished with a career-best 13 tallies.  Borovnjak tallied a career-best nine points.  Penn State did not play its best game, but the Lions battled for 40 minutes en route to a nice victory over Long Island.

Final Thoughts:

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State will travel to Columbus on Saturday for a high stakes clash with the Buckeyes.  Big Ten title game implications are on the line for both teams during the final two weeks of the 2011 season.

Let's take a look at the scenarios for everyone still alive for a berth in the title game from the Leaders Division.

It is worth noting that the first tiebreaker between divisional teams is head-to-head competition.  Additionally, the following procedure will take place in the event of a three-way or four-way tie:

If three or more teams are tied, steps 1 through 7 will be followed until a determination is made. If only two teams remain tied after any step, the winner of the game between the two tied teams shall be the representative.

1.  The records of the three tied teams will be compared against each other

2.  The records of the three tied teams will be compared within their division

3.  The records of the three teams will be compared against the next highest placed teams in their division in order of finish (4, 5, and 6)

4.  The records of the three teams will be compared against all common conference opponents;

5.  The highest ranked team in the first Bowl Championship Series Poll following the completion of Big Ten regular season conference play shall be the representative in the Big Ten Championship Game, unless the two highest ranked tied teams are ranked within one spot of each other in the BCS poll. In this case, the head-to-head results of the top two ranked tied teams shall determine the representative in the Big Ten Championship

6.  The team with the best overall winning percentage [excluding exempted games] shall be the representative

7.  The representative will be chosen by random draw.

Leaders Division Scenarios:

Penn State (8-2, 5-1)

- A Penn State win at Ohio State would give the Lions no worse than a share of the Leaders Division title.

- Penn State controls its own destiny and would play in the Big Ten Championship game with two victories in the final two weeks.

- The Nittany Lions hold a one-game lead over Wisconsin heading into the final two weeks.  A Penn State win at Ohio State and a Wisconsin loss at Illinois would give the Lions the outright Leaders Division title and a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3.

- A Penn State victory at Ohio State and a Wisconsin victory at Illinois would set up a winner take all contest in Madison on Nov. 26 between the Nittany Lions and Badgers.  Under those circumstances, Penn State would still hold a one-game lead over the Badgers heading into the final week.  However, the winner of the final game would clinch the spot in the Big Ten title game.

- A Penn State loss at Ohio State and a Wisconsin victory at Illinois would send the two teams into the final week tied with 5-2 records.  That scenario would set up a winner take all matchup in Camp Randall Stadium between Penn State and Wisconsin for the Leaders Division title and a spot in the Big Ten Championship game.

- Similarly, a Penn State loss at Ohio State and a Wisconsin setback at Illinois would send the two teams into the final week with the Lions holding a one-game lead over the Badgers.  That scenario would also set up a winner take all contest between Penn State and Wisconsin in Madison on Nov. 26.

Wisconsin (8-2, 4-2)

- Wisconsin controls its own destiny for the Leaders Division crown and spot in the Big Ten Championship game.  Wins at Illinois and against Penn State would send the Badgers to Indianapolis.

Ohio State (6-4, 3-3)

- Ohio State would clinch the Leaders Division title by winning its final two games, Penn State losing its final two games and Wisconsin losing to Illinois this weekend.  That scenario would set up a three-way tie between Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin.  All three teams would be 5-3 in the conference.  The Buckeyes would earn the championship game slot by virtue of a 2-0 record against Penn State and Wisconsin.  The Badgers would be 1-1 in that scenario and Penn State would be 0-2.

- In the event of a four-way tie with Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin, with all four teams finishing 5-3, Ohio State would win the tiebreaker under that scenario by virtue of a 2-1 record against the other tied teams and a head-to-head victory over Wisconsin.  In that scenario, Penn State and Purdue would be 1-2 against the other three teams.  Wisconsin would also be 2-1, but the Buckeyes beat the Badgers head-to-head and would earn the title game slot.

Purdue (5-5, 3-3)

- Purdue can only hope for a share of the Leaders Division title by winning out, Penn State losing its final two games and Wisconsin losing to Illinois this weekend.  With a 5-5 overall record, the Boilers would not win any potential three-way or four-way tiebreakers.



Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Chelsea Howard, Sophomore Swimmer

As we get underway with our dual meet season, it's now more than ever that we rely on a competitive attitude. We've been doing new things in the pool and in the weight room to prepare us for these opportunities to get up and race.

 This week we are preparing to take on the University of Virginia and Indiana University. Last year, we traveled to Virginia for the tri-meet, battled tough, but came out short of a victory. This year, however, we are hosting these two teams in our own pool and are looking for a different result.

While traveling to another pool is always a unique opportunity and fun experience, there's something special about being a host team for a meet like this. We take away the hours of riding a bus and living out of a suit case for a few nights and focus our energy more on what's about to take place. No experience can amount to what it's like to run out of the locker room to "Zombie Nation", forming a jumping mob filled with indescribable energy, doing a cowbell cheer and then lining the side of the pool to cheer on our teammates and face our supportive fans in the stands. We are all excited to see what's to come and are looking forward to the weekend.

 Despite all of the events that have occurred in the media this past week, our team has come together and remembered what it really means to be a Penn Stater. We haven't lost our school pride, if anything it's stronger than before. Everyone involved with the athletic department has done an excellent job explaining the situation and has been open to helping anyone in need. They've reminded us to stay focused with our sport and class work and to avoid getting too caught up in the media. Several of us went to support the women's soccer team as they began the NCAA championship on Friday and then we went to the candle light vigil. It gave me chills to be a part of such a large movement, all in honor of the victims, and reminded me the outstanding community you are a part of when you become a Nittany Lion.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following a 39-3 victory over Bloomsburg in the season opener, the second-ranked Nittany Lion wrestling team will host No. 4 Minnesota on Sunday.

The Nittany Lions (1-0) and Gophers (0-0) will collide in an early-season Big Ten dual at noon (BTN).  The Golden Gopher dual match lineup features 10 ranked wrestlers.  The dual will be contested in front of a standing room only crowd.

GoPSUsports.com caught up with head assistant coach Casey Cunningham for the latest edition of This Week in Penn State Wrestling.  Take a look.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Part one of GoPSUsports.com's one-on-one interview with Interim Head Coach Tom Bradley during Ohio State week.

Stay tuned for part two of the interview this week.

VIDEO: Ohio Sate Week Interview with Coach Bradley, Part I


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State returned to practice on Monday afternoon to kick off preparations for a critical clash with rival Ohio State on Saturday in Columbus.

Interim head coach Tom Bradley said that he is looking forward to the big game in one of college football's greatest stadiums.

"It's still Ohio State/Penn State," Coach Bradley said.  "One of the things I want to emphasize right now, this is all about the players, it's about our team, their team.  It's still football, great atmosphere, college football, playing at The Horseshoe.  Doesn't get any better than that."

Neither team can afford another loss as they battle for the Leaders Division title.  Ohio State must win out and have some help to win the Leaders Division, while Penn State controls its own destiny.

"It's going to be an exciting game," said Coach Bradley.  "We're both fighting for the title.  There's a lot on the line."

Following an emotional day in Beaver Stadium on Saturday, the Nittany Lions responded with a good start to the week on Monday.

"We had a good practice yesterday," Coach Bradley said.  "It was short.  And today is our Tuesday practice and it will be a padded practice.  It will be a very energetic and enthusiastic.  And I'll back off Wednesday and Thursday because of the concerns I have with their legs; it's been a long season.  I'll take the pads off of them Wednesday and Thursday and just get them fresh for Saturday."

As for the gameday procedures on the sideline, Coach Bradley said that with such a quick turnaround last week, the team had little time to prepare for the logistical changes on the field, in terms of calling plays on both sides of the ball.  Coach Bradley spent time coaching the defense against Nebraska last week, but his role will change in Columbus.

"This week Coach Johnson and Coach Vanderlinden will make the calls on defense," Coach Bradley said.  "And I've elevated Elijah Robinson.  I told you before, Elijah will become one of our full‑time coaches.  And Bill Cavanaugh will move up, and Bill will be our wide receiver coach from here on out."

Coach Bradley will spend time with the Nittany Lion offense this week.  He last worked with the offense in 1983 as a receivers coach, but on Monday he spent time with the Nittany Lion offensive players.

"I basically wanted to go over there and just get a feel," Coach Bradley said.  "And now today I'll go back and forth from the offense to the defense and also with the special teams, because I will work with Anthony Fera."

He spent more than 15 years as the Penn State special teams coach.  What Coach Bradley stressed on Tuesday is that he will be spending time with every group on the squad to do what is best to put the team in a position to win.

The border rivals will collide on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Columbus.

Press Conference Notes:
- Matt McGloin is listed as the sole starter at quarterback for the Nittany Lions on the depth chart this week.  Coach Bradley said that at this point, McGloin is the starter.

- Coach Bradley said on Tuesday that Silas Redd will not have any contact this week at practice, but he believes Redd will be able to play on Saturday.  The sophomore tailback sprained the joint connecting his collarbone to his chest plate on Saturday.

- Coach Bradley said that the staff organized a conference call with all the parents of the current players last week to create an open line of communication.  He said that the call was very well received and that he may do it once every couple weeks. 

"I'm actually thinking about instituting maybe once every two weeks we have those, whether it be an academic information for the parents, when we go to a bowl game, what we expect from the players.  There's a whole bunch of different areas that we can communicate better with our parents, be more transparent."

- Coach Bradley said that he has talked with Ohio State head coach Luke Fickell this week, and the two agreed that the teams will likely meet on the field prior to the coin toss on Saturday.

- The Nittany Lion players will not be available to talk with the media this week as the group focuses on Saturday's critical game in Columbus.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - When Nittany Lion redshirt freshman forward Jon Graham caught his first pass of the night from Tim Frazier in the paint, he was not going to be denied.

Graham powered through two Radford defenders on his way to an old-fashioned 3-point play.  The basket was Penn State's first of the night at the 16:08 mark, and Graham's first of the season.

The Baltimore native finished the game 3-for-5 from the floor for seven points and four rebounds.  Graham's strong performance came on the heels of a 0-for-6, one-point outing in the season opener on Saturday.

Graham looked like a completely different player on Monday night during Penn State's 62-46 victory over Radford.  And it all came down to confidence.

"Number one, I relaxed," Graham said.  "That's something coach has been trying to tell me since the summertime - just relax.  When I was younger, I would get upset and let it affect me, but I sat down with myself and I prayed and I settled myself down and said I can play this game.  I know what I need to do, and whatever I need to do to help my team win, I'll do it."

Graham, son of former Maryland great and Philadelphia 76er Ernest Graham, is an important player for the Nittany Lions.  At 6-8, 240 pounds, the redshirt freshman will play a big role in the paint for Penn State this winter.

"I was so happy for him," head coach Patrick Chambers said.  "I talked to him after the game (Saturday) and we met yesterday and chatted with him during walk through.  You've got to play with confidence, and when kids have confidence and a clear head, the sky is the limit, because he is a good player."

The Maryland product will score when the opportunities present themselves, but rebounding is what is on his mind.

"Rebounding is my job," Graham said.  "Scoring is going to come regardless, every game, scoring is going to come.  My number one job is rebounding, securing those boards, because they are possessions, very important possessions for our team, and that's my number one priority right now."

Graham played a huge role on the Nittany Lion roster during his redshirt season.  He was instrumental at practice as Penn State made its push into the NCAA Tournament in March.  He put on 30 pounds of muscle during the redshirt year, and he is poised to play an integral role on this year's team.

After Saturday's outing, Graham stepped up on Monday night to provide a big spark for the Nittany Lions.

"Just getting him in there early, getting the blood flowing, getting some rebounds, getting some touches," Coach Chambers said.  "He did a good job setting screens.  Just hitting bodies.  Something like that will get him going."

Graham and the Nittany Lions will look to take another step forward on Wednesday night (7 p.m.) when Long Island comes to town for the second game in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back at Penn State's 62-46 victory over Radford on Monday in the Bryce Jordan Center on the running in-game blog.

Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com in-game blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.

We will bring you coverage from tonight's matchup between Penn State (1-0) and the Radford Highlanders (2-0) inside the Bryce Jordan Center.  The Nittany Lions and Highlanders have never played before.

This is the first game of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.  The Lions will host Long Island on Wednesday before traveling to Connecticut for weekend matchups against No. 2 Kentucky and Old Dominion or South Florida for the remainder of the tournament.

Check back throughout the game for updates at every media timeout.

Starting Lineups

Penn State: G - Frazier, G - Lewis, G - Woodyard, F - Oliver, F - Borovnjak

Radford: G - Jareal Smith, G - Chance Smith, G - R.J. Price, F - Jonathan Edwards, F - Tolga Cerrah

First Half:

15:54 - Radford 6, Penn State 3

Radford's Jareal Smith struck first with a pair of long distance 3-pointers.  The Highlanders held the Lions scoreless until the 16:06 mark when Jon Graham took a pass in the middle of the paint hard to the basket for an old-fashioned 3-point play.  It is great to see Graham active in the paint.  The Nittany Lions need production from their frontcourt.

11:28 - Radford 11, Penn State 7

Smith has all 11 tallies for the Highlanders, including a trio of 3-pointers.  Tim Frazier found freshman Ross Travis for a lay-in on a fastbreak play and Graham netted his second bucket of the game, but overall, the Lions are just 3-for-12 from the floor and 0-for-5 from 3-point range.  Penn State has found open looks, but the shots have not started to fall quite yet.

6:53 - Penn State 19, Radford 11

After the slow start, Penn State turned it on in a big way at the mid-way point of the first half.  Graham's second basket of the half kick-started a 14-0 scoring spurt covering more than seven minutes of game clock.  Frazier scored five of the 14 tallies and provided an assist.  The Nittany Lion defense turned up the wick, as well.  Radford's last basket came at the 14:24 mark.  Penn State's ability to get stops and force turnovers has increased the tempo significantly.

3:58 - Penn State 21, Radford 17

Radford guard Chance Smith snapped a span of nearly nine minutes without a basket from the Highlanders to trim Penn State's lead to five (19-14).  Frazier answered with a runner in the lane, but Radford's Lukas Winegarner tallied an old-fashioned 3-point play to set the score at 21-17.  Neither team is shooting the ball at high percentage, but the Lions are still finding good looks on the offensive end of the floor.

0:00 - Penn State 29, Radford 20

Thanks to an 8-0 run in the latter stages of the first half, Penn State takes a nine-point lead into the locker room.  Frazier turned it on as the half wore on, scoring 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting.  The Nittany Lion point guard did a superb job pushing the tempo and getting into the paint.  He also tallied four rebounds and four assists.  The Lions managed 11-for-28 (39 percent) shooting from the floor and 1-for-9 (11 percent) in the first half.  Penn State did a very nice job defending the Highlanders, holding Radford to just 27 percent shooting.  Jermaine Marshall saw his first action of the season in the first half.  The shooting numbers will improve in the second half as the Lions continue to find open looks, but the defensive effort in the first 20 minutes was the key.

Second Half:

14:33 - Penn State 42, Radford 28

The Nittany Lions stormed out of the locker room en route to their largest lead o the night, 40-23.  Billy Oliver ignited a sequence of three straight 3-pointers.  Lewis and Woodyard each knocked down shots form beyond the arc before Frazier slashed to the bucket for two.  Penn State went 4-for-4 out of the locker room.  Radford scored five straight tallies to trim the deficit down to 14, but the Lions are starting to find some rhythm on the offensive end of the floor.  One quick note - Frazier is now 15th on the all-time list of assists at Penn State with 259.  He has seven assists tonight to go along with 14 points.

11:41 - Penn State 44, Radford 32

The Nittany Lions lead by 12 as the game nears the final 10 minutes of action.  The Highlanders are hanging around with timely baskets.  Frazier carved through the defense with a nifty finger roll to put the Lions up 44-30 before R.J. Price countered for Radford.  Penn State is 6-for-10 shooting thus far in the second half.

6:56 - Penn State 52, Radford 36

Woodyard and Marshall each knocked down 3-pointers before another basket from Frazier pushed the Nittany Lion lead up to 19, the largest of the night.  Frazier has turned in a superb performance.  The Texas native has 18 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals to lead the Lions.  He has been in complete control managing the offense since the early stages of the opening half.

0:00 - Penn State 62, Radford 46

Penn State turned it on in the second half with much better flow and intensity on the offensive end of the floor.  As we mentioned at halftime, the Lions had plenty of open looks in the first 20 minutes, but the shots just did not fall.  It was a much difference story in the second half, largely thanks to the ball distribution by Frazier.  The junior point guard tallied the second double-double of his career with 20 points and 10 assists on 9-for-14 shooting from the floor.  He also tallied six rebounds and three steals.  Lewis finished with nine, Oliver added eight and Graham tallied seven points.  Penn State's defense was solid throughout the night, limiting Radford to just 46 points on 34 percent shooting.

Final Thoughts:

After a slow offensive start, the Nittany Lions turned up with wick with two key scoring runs, a 14-0 spurt in the first half and an 8-0 run mid-way through the second half, to put the game away.  The Lions shot 52 percent from the field in the second half en route to the 16-point victory.  Frazier was the catalyst throughout the night.  His stat line speaks volumes about how he played on Monday night, but the most impressive thing about his performance was his control running the offense.  He seemingly did whatever he wanted to with the ball.

Coach Chambers said after the game that he wants to see the Lions get to the foul line more often (12 free throw attempts on Monday).  He said that the Lions executed much better on offense against Radford.  Coach Chambers said that he wants to see the Lions make fewer mistakes moving forward.

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look through some of the significant numbers following Saturday's 17-14 setback to Nebraska.

1: The Nittany Lions dropped their first game of the season decided by 10 points or fewer on Saturday.  Penn State is now 6-1 in contests decided by that margin.

2: Senior tailback Stephfon Green scored two touchdowns in his final home game on Saturday.  The other time Green tallied two scores in his career was the first game of his redshirt freshman season against Coastal Carolina in 2008.

13: Nate Stupar made a career-high 13 tackles in his final game at Beaver Stadium.

15: Senior defensive tackle Devon Still leads the Big Ten in solo TFL (15) and is second overall with 16.5 TFL. He had 1.0 TFL, six tackles (four solo) and a forced fumble against Nebraska.

23: Penn State honored 23 seniors prior to kickoff on Saturday afternoon.  The Nittany Lions are 19-3 on Senior Day games since 1990.

317: Penn State welcomed back more than 317 lettermen on Saturday.

375: The Nittany Lions out-gained Nebraska 375-331 on Saturday.

589: A total of 589 media credentials were distributed for the Senior Day clash with Nebraska.

107,903: A crowd of 107,903 attended the game in Beaver Stadium on Saturday, marking the largest total attendance for a game this season.  The Alabama clash drew 107,846 fans.

Monday Notebook:

Big Ten Title Game Slots Up for Grabs

With two weeks remaining in the 2011 season, the Nittany Lions are in the thick of a battle for a spot in the Big Ten Championship game on Dec. 3 inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.  Penn State (8-2, 5-1) holds a one-game lead over Wisconsin (8-2, 4-2) and a two-game edge over Purdue (5-5, 3-3) and Ohio State (6-4, 3-3).  The Nittany Lions can clinch the Leaders Division title on Saturday with a victory at Ohio State and a Wisconsin loss at Illinois.  Penn State will clinch a spot in the Big Ten title game with two victories, regardless of what Wisconsin does.  Should Ohio State knock off the Lions and Wisconsin beat Illinois this week, Penn State and Wisconsin would each have two conference losses.  The two teams would then collide in the final game of the season for a spot in the Big Ten title game.

Michigan State (8-2, 5-1) is atop the Legends Division.  The Spartans hold a one-game lead over Michigan (8-2, 4-2) and Nebraska (8-2, 4-2).

Lions Ranked No. 21 in BCS

The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 21 in the BCS this week.  With a BCS average of .2303, Penn State trails No. 20 Southern Miss by a hundredth of a point.  The Nittany Lions are ranked 19th in the Harris and 21st in the USA Today polls.  Penn State is ranked 23rd in the Computer Rankings.  The BCS formula includes an average of six computer rankings.  There are five Big Ten teams in the BCS standings this week.

Weekly Defense Ranking Update

Penn State's defense is among the nation's elite in several statistical categories.  The Lions are ranked eighth or higher in four major NCAA statistical categories this week.  The Nittany Lions are ranked eighth in total defense (287.20 ypg), third in scoring defense (12.90 ppg), fourth in pass efficiency defense (96.02), fifth in pass defense (167.70 ypg) and 28th in rushing defense (119.50 ypg).

Early Look at Ohio State

Ohio State (6-4, 3-3) will play its final home game of the season on Saturday afternoon following a 26-23 overtime setback at Purdue.  Ohio State had won three straight games before the three-point loss to the Boilermakers.  After beginning the season with question marks at the quarterback position, the Buckeyes have settled on freshman Braxton Miller as the signal caller.

Miller is a very athletic player with superb speed in the open field.  He is second on the team in rushing with 490 yards and five touchdowns.  The 6-3, 210-pound freshman has thrown for 679 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 50 percent of his passes.  Dan Herron is the top threat in the backfield.  After missing the first six games, Herron has rushed for 477 yards during the past four weeks.  Redshirt junior tight end Jake Stoneburner leads the team with 12 receptions and six touchdowns.  Ohio State's receiving corps will receive a boost on Saturday when former All-Big Ten wide out Devier Posey returns.  The senior did not play in the first 10 games.  Ohio State's offense (317.3 ypg) is ranked 11th in the Big Ten.

On defense, linebacker Andrew Sweat leads the team in tackling with 68 stops.  However, Sweat left the Purdue game with concussion-like symptoms, and he is not listed on this week's depth chart.  Freshman Ryan Shazier will step in at weakside linebacker, but the absence of Sweat is a big blow to the Ohio State defense.  The defensive unit allows 317.2 yards per game (ranks fifth in the Big Ten).

Wisconsin Kickoff Time

Penn State's clash at Wisconsin on the final week of the regular season will be a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN or ABC.  The Nittany Lions and Badgers are slated to meet one another on the final week of the regular season from 2011-'14.  The Nittany Lions last met the Badgers in 2008, with Penn State marching to a 48-7 win at Camp Randall Stadium.  Penn State is currently atop the Leaders Division (8-2, 5-1) with Wisconsin second (8-2, 4-2).


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By Laura Finley and Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writers

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It was a weekend of comebacks for the No. 12 Penn State Lady Lions, who overcame first half difficulties only to sweep the Lady Lion Classic and place first in the tournament.

Penn State trailed both games at halftime but came to life in the second half going on to win against Washington State and Middle Tennessee State.

"Our will to win is tremendous and we just don't want to lose," said senior guard Zhaque Gray. "We know that even if we don't get it in the first half, we always play better in the second half because we figure things out and [Coach Washington] tells us different things to focus on."

Even with the team struggling during the first half of their games, head coach Coquese Washington knew that the Lady Lions would be able to turn things around and become a viable threat by the end of the games. Penn State did just that, holding their opponents scoreless in the last seven minutes of each game.

"I'm very confident in our team and I'm very confident in our abilities," said coach Washington. "They do a good job of making adjustments. Sometimes it takes them 10-20 minutes to feel out the game so I was pretty confident we would play better the second half and give ourselves an opportunity to win."

The Lady Lions won their season opener against Washington State on Friday and used a strong defense to pull away late in the game, allowing them to take the win 72-60.

Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas and junior guard Alex Bentley had a strong offensive presence, scoring 22 points each and shooting a combined 17-19 from the free-throw line.

Despite the win, the team struggled early against the Washington State defense with 17 turnovers in the first half, putting them down 38-35 at halftime.

"Those were very uncharacteristic turnovers that we had," said Alex Bentley. "I think it's just first game jitters. You know it's our first game, we're really pumped, really excited to get out there on the floor and sometimes stuff like that happens, but we definitely turned it around second half."

During the second half, the Lady Lions made necessary adjustments, retaking the lead with 10 minutes left to play, 59-55. A solid 13-0 run ended the game for the Lady Lions who kept Washington State from scoring in the final minutes.

With defense stressed most of preseason, the team was happy with their dominating performance at the end of the night.

"Down the stretch it just became 'we're not going to let them score,'" said sophomore forward/center Talia East. "It wasn't about the offense because we knew that we were up, it was just like main focus is defense."

The Lady Lions returned to the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday afternoon, this time playing Middle Tennessee State. Penn State trailed MTSU from the start, struggling to produce runs on offense and heading into halftime trailing 32-26.

"We were playing kind of slow in the first half," said Maggie Lucas. "The second half was a whole other game. We turned into a whole other gear."

Lucas came out of the locker room, immediately scoring the first three-point shot of the day 11 seconds into the game. MTSU held on to the lead though, sinking three 3-point shots in a row making the score 41-31.

This success was short-lived for MTSU as sophomore forward Ariel Edwards changed the tide of the game five minutes into the second half, making two shots in a row and forcing an MTSU turnover. It was all uphill from there for the Lady Lions who went on an 11-4 run to take the lead 46-45.

Coach Washington acknowledged Edwards' contribution to the end result, adding that she and junior guard Gizelle Studevent added much needed energy on the court.

"The two kids who I think really gave us a boost were Ariel and Gizelle," said coach Washington. "Ariel got us a couple of steals and some rebounds, and a couple of drives. Gizelle came in and hit a couple wide-open jumpers, and they really gave us a boost. When they can come off the bench and they can play with confidence and contribute, we are definitely a much better team. "

The excitement built from there as fans were on their feet, screaming in support of the Lady Lions who continued to dominate with a 19-0 run in the last seven minutes. The defense held their ground, forcing turnovers as MTSU failed to make forward progress on the court. The run allowed Penn State to take the win 65-49.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - New warm-ups. New banners. New faces. New season.

Same place. Same fans. Same attitude.

With high expectations for themselves and from many of their onlookers, the Penn State wrestling squad began the year the same way they ended their last: winning.

The Nittany Lions officially kicked off the 2011-'12 season on Sunday in their first home match against Bloomsburg. Prior to the start of the dual, the team welcomed back last year's 125-pound starter Brad Pataky to help unveil the two newest banners that were raised in Rec Hall, honoring the team's Big Ten Championship and National Title last season.

More than 6,000 Nittany Lion wrestling fans poured into Rec Hall to see Penn State down the Huskies 39-3 in their season-opening competition, and got a taste of what three-time All-American Frank Molinaro said everyone on his team has the ability to do.

"We had a pretty good amount of pressure down the lineup and you know we wrestled hard and it was a good learning experience," said Molinaro. "I think we have 10 studs on our team, I mean 35 studs really, but 10 starters that are really tough."

With a lineup featuring five faces that had never competed as attached wrestlers in a Penn State singlet, there were quite a few pleasant surprises throughout the dual. Four of the five new starters won their individual bouts, and collectively scored 15 dual points in the match.

Freshman 125-pounder Nico Megaludis got the crowd on its feet right from the start with a win by fall at the 2:15 mark over Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan. Megaludis' debut and fiery demeanor is one that head coach Cael Sanderson said he was very pleased with.

"That's a great thing to see not only as a freshman but he's the first guy out of the shoot there and that just kind of gives you an idea of the four years that we're going to have with him," said Sanderson. "And having lead-off man that's going to wrestle as hard as he does and set the tone attitude-wise, that's a big deal for us."

Redshirt freshman Dylan Alton also made his first appearance on the mat for the Nittany Lions, dealing four takedowns to the Huskies' Frank Hickman and winning by a decision of 10-8. After sitting mat-side for the entirety of last season, Alton said that he had been anxious to get out in front of a packed house.

"It was exciting," said Alton. "You know the crowd, I mean we have the best fans here so just wrestling in front of them is just amazing and just a good feeling."

Later in the lineup, true freshman Morgan McIntosh stepped out into the spotlight for his first dual appearance against Bloomsburg's Richard Perry at the 197 spot. McIntosh and Perry battled for the first period, but McIntosh began to make his statement in the second and cruised to a 6-0 decision over Perry.

Redshirt junior Quentin Wright has been practicing with McIntosh in the training room for the past several weeks, and Wright said that he wasn't surprised with the outcome of his teammate's bout.

"That's definitely what I expected of him and more where that came from," said Wright. "Like Frank said we've got ten studs and what they did and what we did, everybody really did a good job out there."

As a whole, the Nittany Lions delivered three pins, one technical fall, one major and four decisions to earn their 39 dual points and take their first match-up of the season. At the end of the day, Sanderson said that he was not only satisfied with his team's performance, but also ready to see more.

"I'm excited for the future just because we know that we're going to continue to improve every time we step out there on the mat," said Sanderson. "There's no question about that. Success is the greatest foundation for success."

Next Up: Penn State hosts Minnesota on Sunday, Nov. 20 at Noon in Rec Hall.

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A new era in Nittany Lion basketball started off strong Saturday afternoon as the Penn State knocked off Hartford 70-55 to begin the Patrick Chambers era in Happy Valley.

The Lions came out aggressive with a trapping defensive style early and looking to push the pace on offense to get the game going.

"If felt great to go out there and play against somebody else," said freshman Trey Lewis, who led the Lions with 17 points in his debut.  "We've been going so hard against each other."

The team was able to use that energy and an aggressive defense to force the Hawks into 26 turnovers, including getting 15 steals.  The 15 steals were the most for a Penn State team since 2001.

"Talking and communicating on defense has to be our staple," said Cammeron Woodyard on how the team was able to be so effective defensively.  "If we don't get steals we've got to lock down for 35 seconds."

"The team is starting to communicate more, we're playing harder," said head coach Pat Chambers on improvements he has seen from the start of the season.

On the offensive end the Lions were able to move the ball effectively to get a balanced attack.

Tim Frazier added 16 points and Woodyard added 14 points to go along with the 17 from Lewis to help lead the Lions in the scoring department.

Lewis was able to come in as a freshman and really give the team a spark offensively, especially with some players in foul trouble early on.

"He gives us another option, a guy that can make some shots and make some plays for others," Chambers said.  "He's a tough kid."

Lewis wasn't the only player out there who carried a "swagger" as Chambers mentioned, as the whole team looked to stay confident on the court no matter the score.

"We all have to have great confidence," said Woodyard.  "If you're not confident you're not a great player."

"We need confidence in everything we do," Chambers added.

Despite foul trouble early, Frazier was able to help lead a Penn State offense to 70 points, and get to the line to get his rhythm going, going 8-9 from the stripe.

"I'm telling him (Frazier) to make plays," Chambers said on his point guard.  "He's got to look to score and when you do look to score opportunity presents itself. "

The team was able to use that confidence and play together, despite struggling in the first half, shooting only 28 percent in the first 20 minutes.

"We played together even when the shots weren't falling," Lewis said.  "We stuck together no matter what."

"Guys are still starting to understand where they get the ball, when they get the ball, "Chambers said.  "Repetition will help."

That sticking together helped as the game wore on, with the team improving to 44 percent shooting in the second half.

Chambers mentioned the team continuing to work hard every day being key as they move forward with four games in the next week.

Despite the heavy early schedule including a game against a top five ranked Kentucky team next Saturday the team and coaches are looking one game at a time.

"I'm thinking about tomorrow, I'm thinking about getting better," Chambers said.  Adding the team was going to keep being pushed hard in practice despite the early schedule.

"If you play hard for 40 minutes the score will take care of itself," he added.  "That's the mindset we need to have."

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion women's soccer team defeated Army, 1-0, on its home turf Friday night, capping off a flawless 9-0 record at Jeffrey Field this season.

In a game where the Penn State offense completely dominated throughout, out-shooting its opponent 29-3, it was a goal by junior midfielder Christine Nairn in the final five minutes that propelled the Nittany Lions to victory over the Black Knights.

"We always have confidence in each other and we knew somebody's going to step up," said Nairn.  "We were just trying everything we could... they [Army] did a great job and fortunately we were able to put one away late."

The offense struggled to find a rhythm early against a stingy Army defense that dropped six players back at all times.  The Black Knights hoped to catch the Nittany Lions off guard and score on a counter attack.  Though Penn State controlled the ball for virtually the entire first half, they were unable to oust Army's sensational goalie, senior Monica Lee, who made a career high 12 saves in the game.

"I think it was just a combination of compacting the midfield and then their keeper just playing big today," commented sophomore forward Maya Hayes on what the Army defense was doing so well.

The Lions poured on shot after shot towards the end of the half, only to be turned away by the Black Knights' defense with every attempt.  Lee made her presence known on every corner kick and breakaway opportunity Penn State had.  She slid out of goal on more than one occasion to deny Hayes, the nation's leading scorer.  The game was knotted at zero going into half time.

"It was frustrating, but it was great to be surrounded by teammates that you can depend on when you can't put the ball in and score for our team," said Hayes, who tallied eight shots on the night.

The second half proved to tell a similar tale save for a single, critical exception: the offensive blitz by the Nittany Lions had begun to wear Army down.  Penn State relentlessly attacked the goal, unleashing a seemingly endless barrage of shots, but to no avail.  The Army defense held strong until the final five minutes when sophomore defender Bri Hovington lofted a perfectly placed cross by Hayes to Nairn who controlled the ball and slipped it into the lower left corner of the net.

"In my head I was just saying, 'just put it on goal, put it on goal,'" said Nairn.

"We wanted to push the tempo," added head coach Erica Walsh.  "We wanted to be the ones to decide how quickly the game was going to end."

The Black Knights clearly demonstrated why they had compiled 15 shutouts this season.  They constrained the middle, forcing Penn State's formidable trio of Nairn, Hayes, and sophomore forward Taylor Schram, to take difficult shots from outside the box and then Lee smothered any ball that snuck by the defense.  It was the Nittany Lions' unfettered determination, fueled by the home crowd, which allowed them to emerge triumphantly.

"I thought the crowd was phenomenal," said coach Walsh.  "I felt a tremendous energy in here tonight, a positive energy and it kind of willed us to win this game."

The coaches have repeatedly told the players how important it is to win on their home field.  The players have united behind their seniors and their captains and shown that they never lose at Jeffrey Field.

The Nittany Lions head to Winston-Salem, N.C., home of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, where they will face Marquette in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Nov. 12, 2011

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's upperclassmen with this entry from Kristin Blades and Kassidy Stauder!

Dear Fans,

Practices this week have been going well for the team. As you all may know, this week has been pretty hectic in State College. The team has been handling all of the news well and has been able to keep positive attitudes while in the gym. We have all stayed focused in and out of the gym, keeping our minds on the ultimate dream. Each girl on the team has been working really hard in the gym to get where they need to be. We have started to move all of our floor routines onto the hard floor and have also moved our vaults onto the competition landing mat. We have been focusing on improving the small details to perfect our routines. On Wednesday evening we all as a team, including Associate Head Coach, Rachelle Thompson, and Volunteer Assistant Coach, Jillian Monahan, went to the Women's Club at the Oak Wood Presbyterian Church for a Welcome Event Auction. We helped distribute beverages and desserts. We also helped with the auctioning by modeling the prizes and by calling out raffle numbers. It was definitely quite the experience and we are most certain that we all enjoyed it. It is always an honor to help out our community in any way that we can. We will continue to work hard in and out of the gym. We are looking forward to the November Intra Squad that will take place next weekend. If you are in town, please feel free to join us at White building!  We are all so excited for Thanksgiving break so we can be reunited with our families again for at least a few days! We are sure the freshman can't wait to go home as well. We will maintain positive attitudes and will continue to keep our heads up high being Penn State Proud.

WE ARE...PENN STATE!

Together Without Limits

- Kristin Blades and Kassidy Stauder
 

Oct. 30, 2011

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's freshmen with this entry from Krystal Welsh! 

To all the friends, family, and fans...

It is a little past the midway of the semester now and it seems like it flew by. This past week before Halloween we had a Hollow-week of fun games and competitions in the gym. We split into two teams, the black and orange team and every day was a different theme. Monday was Decade day. Tuesday was Goth day. Thursday was Nerd day and Friday was the clash of colors day where we had our Halloween intrasquad.  Every day we had chances to earn points by our different assignments, how we dressed and our team spirit. By the end of the week, the teams were pretty close in points and at the end of the intrasquad, the orange team pulled out the win. As the team as a whole, I thought our intrasquad went pretty well. We are definitely improving every intrasquad and I'm very proud of our team. I know if we keep this hard work up, we will be amazing by competition season. Our video of the Halloween intrasquad should be up soon so keep an eye out for it!

~Krystal Welsh

Oct. 27, 2011

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's upperclassmen with this entry from Madison Merriam and Sharaya Musser!   

Hey! this is Maddie and Sharaya and we are very excited to tell you all about our fun Halloween week in the gym but first we want to tell you a little bit about last Sunday.

The whole team felt very accomplished when we all ran the THON 5K and finished in about 30 minutes. It was harder for some than others but everybody persevered to the end without stopping. It was really important to all of us to push through the three miles to show our support for THON and finding a cure for pediatric cancer.

Now back to Halloween week! Rachelle, Jillian and Randy put on their creative pants and came up with the idea to split the team into two different groups, have a theme for each day of practice and a point system for all of our assignments.

Group one is The Smashing Pumpkins with Maddie, Whitney, Daryl, Kassidy, Stephanie and Kristin. Group two is The Black Widows with Sharaya, Natalie, Lindsay, Krystal, Alex Witt, Alex Stine and Lexi.

Each team can earn points by dressing up in costume for each themed day and completing the assignments. Whichever team wins the most points for costume gets to pick a "Trick-or-Treat" card at the end of practice. If you pick a "Treat" your team will earn more points but if you pick a "Trick" you give the opposing team points.

Monday's theme was "Decade Day". The Smashing Pumpkins dressed up as the Spice Girls for the 90s, The Black Widows dressed up in 80s workout clothes and the coaching staff came in representing the 50s with their cuffed jeans and button-down shirts.

Tuesday was "Goth Day" and it was a dark and scary sight. The whole team, including the coaches, came in wearing all their black clothing and makeup along with fishnet stockings, fake piercings and drawn on tattoos.

"Revenge of the Nerds" was Thursday's theme. Everyone had their thick glasses on and their pants up to their chest's. Suspenders and ties were both popular accessories as well.

We have to say that Randy definitely stole the show with his costumes. None of us girls could take him seriously with his ridiculously goofy costumes. Dressing up made it a really fun week filled with laughter and we thank our coaching staff for that.

Friday we hold our Halloween "Monster Mash" intra-squad where both teams will come in decked out in orange or black to show their team spirit. After the intra-squad all the points will be tallied to see which team wins. The losing team has to cook dinner for the winning team!

We hope we see you Friday at the "Monster Mash" intra-squad to celebrate Halloween the Penn State gymnastics way!

Madison Merriam & Sharaya Musser

Oct. 27, 2011

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's upperclassmen with this entry from Natalie Ettl!

Hello everyone!

            A few events happened over this past weekend that I would like to tell you all about.  The events include the THON 5K, volunteering at the local food bank, and the Mr. & Mrs. Student-Athlete Pageant. 

            For those of you who do not know what THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world!   THON is short for The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon which is a year-long effort that raises funds and awareness for the fight against Pediatric cancer.  THON has grown exponentially since it was first started in 1973 with a group of 39 dancer couples who raised $2,000.  Now THON has over 15,000 student volunteers, 700 dancers, and has raised more than $78 million, benefitting The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.  The THON 5K event is just one even that takes place each year to raise money.  Participants who wish to be involved in the THON 5K may either walk or run.  There is a competitive race, a fun run, and also a children's run (which is not the full 5K as you would expect).  This year, our team participated in our first annual THON 5K.  Each of us were registered in the fun run.  The entire team (minus the senior class who had to all ride bikes due to some nagging injuries) and the coaching staff ran together.  Each and every girl finished with race without having to stop!  I would have to say that this event was extremely successful.  It was great to be able to show all the supporters of THON that the Penn State Women's Gymnastics team is helping in the fight against Pediatric cancer. 

            After the race, the four seniors went to the local food bank with our Phi Mu sorority sisters.  There were a total of 10 of us who came ready to help.  Fortunately, the food bank has had tremendous amounts of help from different organizations and volunteers, that there wasn't much work to be done.  There wasn't one bag to be packed, one shelf to be stocked, or one shelf to be organized. We were told that this is an extremely rare condition but we were still going to put our help to good use.   The 10 of us helped the food bank get ahead on the fast approaching year of 2012.  We went through the binder of 2011 and organized the donations that have been given this year.  We took out organizations that have not yet donated this year and used this binder to create the binder for 2012. 

            Lastly, the team members who didn't go to the food bank after the race went to the Mr. & Mrs. Student-Athlete Pageant which is held each year.  Stephanie Brock (sophomore) was our team representative for this year.  The contestants are each judged on formal wear, a Q&A session, and a performance of a talent.  The pageant is organized by the Student-Athlete Advisory Board and all proceeds go towards THON.  Unfortunately since I was coming from the food bank, I was unable to witness the performance by Stephanie and our freshman Krystal who helped out with her talent.  However, I did see the recording and she looked like she did really well!  A member of the Men's Fencing team was crowned King, and a member of the Women's Field Hockey team was crowned Queen.  Again, just another fun event that we get to experience each year!

            Well, I believe I am about done here.  Quick side note about me, I was lucky enough to have my parents come out last weekend to visit.  We had a lot of fun just going out to dinner, shopping downtown, and watching some college football on Saturday.  Being from Wisconsin, we did have to watch a bit of the Badgers game along with the Penn State game.  Even though I am from Wisconsin, I am now a Penn Stater and I will forever bleed blue and white. 

Until next time,

Natalie Ettl 

Oct. 17, 2011

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's freshmen with this entry from Alex Witt!

Hello, my name is Alex Witt and I am a freshman on the Women's Gymnastics Team at Penn State. For the most part, school and gymnastics are both going really well. There are those occasional struggles here and there but everyone gets those, it's just a matter of pushing through them and staying focused. We are starting to make the transition from preseason to actually starting full sets on all the events and I think that we as a team are at a great point right now. Recently, we have had a lot of little mini intrasquads just to see where we are compared to where we would like to be and I think we are doing better than expected. Everyone worked hard over the summer and it is showing. As a team, we have been doing a lot of outside of the gym activities, like this weekend for example. It was homecoming weekend and there was a huge parade that the men's and women's gymnastics team combined on a float together and threw out t-shirts to the kids and students who were watching the parade. We also recently paired up with a sorority and at our meet and greet we wrote letters to the troops with all the young gymnasts who joined us. For me, I had a back injury my senior year of high school and took off the whole season to let it heal. In the summer, I came to Penn State to start doing rehab on my back so that I would be able to start doing actual gymnastics in the fall. Which I am, it is just a little bit slower of a process than I had hoped it would be, but I am definitely on the right track. The transition from summer to fall was a bit harder that I thought it would be because on top of classes, the practices are more structured and more challenging than they were over the summer. But, I am finally starting to get the hang of balancing my time out between gymnastics, studying, and maintaining my relationships with family and friends back at home. I hope everyone is getting ready for season as we are, WE ARE...

Alex Witt

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head into the media room for comments from head coach Cael Sanderson, Frank Molinaro, Quentin Wright and Dylan Alton following Sunday's 39-3 victory over Bloomsburg at Rec Hall.



Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to Rec Hall for the first match of the 2011-'12 season for the defending national champion Nittany Lion wrestling team.

Today, Penn State opens the season against intra-state foe Bloomsburg in what is expected to be a standing room only crowd inside Rec Hall.  We are mat-side for all the action.  Stay tuned for updates after every match this afternoon.

125: #18 Nico Megaludis Pins Sean Boylan

133: Nick Wilcox Edges Derek Reber, 2-0

Junior Derek Reber battled Nick Wilcox to a scoreless first two periods.  Wilcox had tallied 2:00 of riding time after two frames, but Reber fought off a key opportunity for Wilcox to score to keep things at 0-0.  The duo continued to battle in the third with neither wrestler able to put points on the board until Wilcox registered a takedown in the final seconds en route a slim 2-0 victory.  The win for Bloomsburg set the match at 6-3.

141: Sam Sherlock Wears Down Matt Rappo for 10-5 Decision

149: #1 Frank Molinaro Cruises Past Bryce Busler

Top-ranked Frank Molinaro took control of his bout against Bloomsburg junior Bryce Busler with an early takedown and 1:13 of riding time in the first period.  From there, Molinaro dominated, tallying an escape point and a takedown before three different sets of three near-fall points.  Molinaro had a 14-0 lead heading into final period.  Just two seconds into the third, Molinaro added another takedown and claimed the riding time point for a 17-0 technical fall victory.  Molinaro ran to the center circle looking for more action after a dominating performance from the All-American.  With the tech fall, Penn State took a 14-3 lead in the match.

157: #12 Dylan Alton Tallies 10-8 Victory Over #14 Frank Hickman

In his dual match debut, redshirt freshman Dylan Alton met 14th-ranked Frank Hickman, Jr. from Bloomsburg.  Alton mustered two takedowns in the first period en route to a 4-2 advantage.  He added two more in the second period before a two-point reversal boosted his score total to 10.  Hickman added a late takedown to set the final score at 10-8.  Alton was aggressive from start to finish in his first official action.  The Nittany Lions took a 17-3 lead into the intermission.

165: #1 David Taylor Pins Kevin Hartnett

Sophomore David Taylor likes to score points and entertain the fans every time he steps onto the wrestling mat.  Taylor led the team in bonus points last season, and he got off to a great start in his debut on Sunday.  While leading 4-1 in the first period, the All-American turned a leg lock into a victory by pin at the 2:21 mark in the match.  Taylors pin handed the Nittany Lions a 23-3 edge in the overall match score.

174: #2 Ed Ruth Defeats #20 Mike Dessino, Jr., 10-4

Fellow sophomore Ed Ruth opened his first dual of the season in a strong fashion.  Like Taylor, the Nittany Lion sophomore likes to score bonus points.  He tallied two takedowns and two back points on his way to a 6-3 lead after one period against Bloomsburg's Mike Dessino.  Ruth nearly executed his trademark cradle move on a couple of occasions in the first period, but Dessino fought it off.  Ruth went on to cruise in a 10-4 decision, which put the Lions up 26-3 in the match.

184: #1 Quentin Wright Pins Mike Mirra

Defending national champion Quentin Wright returned to the mat in dominant fashion at 184 pounds.  Wright jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first before securing Penn State's third victory by pin on Sunday afternoon.  Wright is poised for another big season for the Nittany Lions.  Sunday's pin over Bloomsburg freshman Mike Mirra came at the 1:55 mark.  Penn State took a 32-3 lead into the final two matches.

197: #10 Morgan McIntosh Shuts Out Richard Perry

285: #5 Cameron Wade Majors Zach Walsh

Final Thoughts

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The pregame ceremonies leading up to Saturday's Senior Day clash with Nebraska were unlike anyone had ever seen before in Beaver Stadium.

After taking the field, arm-in-arm, the Nittany Lions walked to the center of the field, exchanged handshakes and hugs with members of the Nebraska squad before both teams took a knee for a moment of prayer.

Everyone in the stadium knew the game was moments from kicking off, but thoughts of playing a football game were secondary to the bigger picture after an emotional week in Happy Valley.

The support for the players from the 107,903 fans in attendance on Saturday was tremendous.  The cheers were as loud as any game in Beaver Stadium.  Penn State's players were more than appreciative of the fan support after a very difficult week of circumstances outside of their control.

"It has been tremendous like it always is," senior offensive tackle Chima Okoli said.  "The students never, ever waivered from us. They never gave us halfway support; it has always been unconditional. For my five years, I'm grateful for that."

As for the game itself, Penn State battled back from a 17-0 deficit in the third quarter to set the score at 17-14 following a pair of touchdowns from senior tailback Stephfon Green.

The stage was set for an improbable ending to an incredibly tough week for the Nittany Lions.  Penn State's offense took the field trailing by three with 3:52 to play, needing a field goal to tie the game or a touchdown to win.

The setting felt all too familiar to Penn State's dramatic finish against Illinois two weeks ago.  However, a superb hit from Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David stopped Silas Redd inches short of a first down on fourth-and-one with 1:49 to play.

"That's the nature of the beast sometimes," Okoli said.  "Football is a game of inches.  Six inches when you need seven won't get it done no matter how close you are.  That's what happened.  This isn't going to break us.  This isn't going to ruin us. We aren't going to be down."

Interim head coach Tom Bradley delivered a strong, supportive message to the squad in the locker room after the game.  While there are no moral victories in sports, Coach Bradley was extremely proud of the way the Nittany Lion players battled to the last whistle on Saturday.

The players were bitterly disappointed walking off the field after a 17-14 loss, but every single fan in the stadium stood as one, clapped and cheered.  It was unlike anything you normally see following a loss, and it was a moment the players will truly never forget.

With the Nebraska game behind them, the Nittany Lions shift focus towards a critical road game at Ohio State.  The players will re-focus and get back into the weekly routine on Monday.

"We need to get to work on Monday," said junior defensive tackle Jordan Hill.  "We still have a chance at this.  We have a real good chance at this.  We just have to keep working.  We can't give up.  We can't give in to anything.  That's the only way we've been coached this whole season - to keep working and fight through adversity."

Penn State still controls its own destiny in the final two weeks of the regular season.

"If we win the next two games we're still in the Big Ten Championship (game), so our season's not done," junior quarterback Matt McGloin said.  "We just have to relax, watch the film tomorrow and get back to work on Monday to get ready for Ohio State."

Stay tuned each week for the Faces of the Game feature where we highlight two Nittany Lions for their efforts on Saturday afternoon.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head into the Penn State media room following Saturday's 17-14 setback to Nebraska on Senior Day in Beaver Stadium.

After trailing 17-0, Penn State rallied in the second half to close within three late in the fourth quarter, but fell just short.  Hear from several Nittany Lions following the final home game of 2011.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to Beaver Stadium for gameday coverage of the first Big Ten matchup between Penn State and Nebraska.

GoPSUsports.com will provide in-game coverage from all 12 contests during the fall.  Today, Penn State hosts the Cornhuskers in a pivotal Senior Day matchup.

Stay tuned throughout gameday for updates from the press box as things transpire.

9:45 a.m. - Good Morning

10:15: Defending Taylor Martinez and the Option

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez presents a very unique challenge for opposing defense.  The Cornhusker offense is built on Martinez's ability to test defenses with his feet.  Penn State has prepared all week for the option offense Martinez and the Cornhuskers utilize, but practice speed is one thing and game speed is another.  When Martinez, or running back Rex Burkhead, finds a crack in a defense they can turn it into a big game.  Containing Martinez's ability to run and forcing him to throw the ball in third-and-long situations will be critical to watch.  Nebraska has rushed for an average of 237.7 yards per game in 2011.  The Nittany Lion defense has allowed 111.9 yards per game in 2011.  The matchup between Martinez and the Nittany Lion front seven will be a very interesting one to watch.  Burkhead (5.3) and Martinez (5.1) have combined for more than 1,600 rushing yards while averaging more than 5.0 yards per attempt. 

10:20 a.m. - Team Arrives
The Nittany Lion Blue Buses arrived at the stadium around 10:15 a.m. to a resounding set of cheers in front of a huge crowd of Penn State fans.  Junior quarterback Matt McGloin was the first to step off the buses before greeting the crowd.  It was a fired up group of Nittany Lions walking into the South Tunnel.

10:45 a.m. - Special Day for Seniors
Prior to kickoff, the Nittany Lions will honor 23 senior players, who will run out of the tunnel one final time on Saturday afternoon.  The 2011 seniors are: Drew Astorino, Quinn Barham, Brandon Beachum, Jack Crawford, Andrew Goodman, Stephfon Green, Eric Latimore, Evan Lewis, D'Anton Lynn, J.D. Mason, Derek Moye, Chima Okoli, DeOn'tae Pannell, Ken Pollock, Chaz Powell, Jon Rohrbaugh, Ryan Scherer, Devon Still, Nate Stupar, Joe Suhey, Nick Sukay, Andrew Szczerba and Johnnie Troutman.

5:07, 3rd Quarter - Green Score Draws the Lions within 10

Fueled by a 40-yard pass from McGloin to a leaping Derek Moye, the Nittany Lions answered the Nebraska touchdown with a score of their own.  Senior tailback Stephfon Green charged into the south end zone from five yards out.  McGloin was 4-for-5 on the nine-play, 82-yard drive.  The score was much needed for a Penn State offense that had been held out of the end zone.  Penn State's defense needs to step up with a stand to put the ball back in McGloin's hand.

End 3rd Quarter - Nebraska 17, Penn State 7

The teams will head to the fourth quarter on senior day at Beaver Stadium with the Cornhuskers holding a 10-point cushion.  The Nittany Lion defense needs to step up with a stand to give the offense some better field position.  The yardage numbers are very similar, with the Huskers tallying 282 yards to the Nittany Lions' 277.   

5:42, 4th Quarter - Green Into the End Zone for a Score

Fueled by a reverse, throwback pass from Curtis Drake to Matt McGloin, the Nittany Lions are now within three tallies on the scoreboard.  Drake found a wide open McGloin on a trick play the Nittany Lions have practiced throughout the week.  The play covered 16 yards to set up Stephfon Green's second score of the afternoon.  The Nittany Lions need one more defensive stand to put the ball back in McGloin's hands.  The drive was set up by a huge defensive play from Devon Still, who forced a fumble before the Lions drove down the field.

FINAL: Nebraska 17, Penn State 14

The Nittany Lion offense came up inches short on its best opportunity to put points on the board late in the fourth quarter.  Nonetheless, give the Cornhusker defense credit for superb coverage in the passing game and strong play in the trenches all afternoon to make things difficult for the Penn State offense.  It was an emotional afternoon for the Nittany Lion players, but the game came down to execution.  Despite the setback, Penn State still controls its own destiny for a berth in the Big Ten Championship game.  Ohio State lost on Saturday afternoon, setting up a critical game in Columbus next weekend.  Penn State needs to get back to work on Monday in preparation for a high stakes contest with the Buckeyes next Saturday afternoon.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to the Gameday Photo Blog from Beaver Stadium.  Stay tuned throughout Saturday for updated images from Penn State's Senior Day clash against Nebraska.

Beautiful November day in Beaver Stadium.


A huge crowd awaits the Blue Buses.


Matt McGloin leads the Nittany Lions into the stadium.


Shane McGregor and the Nittany Lions heading into the tunnel.


The Nittany Lions taking the field.


On the field.


Sunny skies looking down on Beaver Stadium.


The Penn State students clad in blue.


Defensive backs warming up.


Drew Astorino and the Nittany Lions prepping for Senior Day.


A postcard from Happy Valley.


Interim head coach Tom Bradley with Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini.


The Nittany Lion seniors in the huddle during the National Anthem.


Quinn Barham and Interim Head Coach Tom Bradley.


Derek Moye heads onto the field after being introduced on Senior Day.


Matt McGloin takes a snap.


The Penn State defense.


Jay Paterno and Terrell Golden in the offensive huddle.


Lined up for a play.


Derek Moye lined up for a play.


Larry Johnson with the Nittany Lion defense.


The Nittany Lion defense.


Senior Day in Beaver Stadium.