BATON
ROUGE, La. - The Lady Lions improved to 15-3 in the opening round of the NCAA
Tournament with an 85-55 victory over Cal Poly on Saturday night inside the
Pete Maravich Center. It was the third straight opening round victory for the Lady
Lions and set up a showdown with host LSU at 9:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday on
ESPN2.
Deja Vu It almost feels like a time warp for the Lady Lions as they enter their
second round game in the NCAA Tournament. Penn State finds themselves preparing
to play LSU inside the Pete Maravich for the right to advance to the Sweet
Sixteen for the second straight season.
This was the same situation they were in last season in the NCAA Tournament; a
solid offensive output to win their opening round game and setup a date with the
host Tigers. LSU may be a different team, but they will be wearing the same colors
and have the same support behind them as last season.
"It's a whole new game," said Maggie Lucas. "They do some things similar to
last year, but they are a different team, just like we are a different team.
They have that same toughness and that same physicality, but they have some new
players and have really improved since last year."
Penn State can make back-to-back trips to the Sweet Sixteen with a victory over
LSU for the second straight year in the round of 32. The last time that a Lady
Lion team made consecutive appearances in the Sweet Sixteen was during their 2003
& 2004 tournament appearances.
Playing in Hostile Environments The Lady Lions have played their fair share of games in tough environments
this season and that is something that can pay dividends at this time of year
according to some of the players.
"We play in tough environments a lot," said Dara Taylor. "The fans we face on the
road are hostile and that is what we are expecting tomorrow night. I think that
playing in front of the Big Ten crowds and in some of the places we played
early in the season will really help us tomorrow night."
Penn State has taken trips to Texas A&M, Miami (Fla.) and Connecticut in the
non-conference slate and ran through the tough road schedule in the Big Ten to
accumulate a 9-4 record on the road. LSU owns a 14-3 record at home this year,
with those losses coming to in-state rival Tulane by two points, No. 14 Texas
A&M by 17 and No. 12 Tennessee by two.
Their non-conference road losses came in Miami and Storrs, Conn. and the conference
slate saw two setbacks, at Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Lions didn't drop a home game this year and
two of their five losses came by four or less points.
"We've played in some big environments this season," said Nikki Greene, "and I
expect tomorrow to be very loud, aggressive and a great basketball environment.
Last year their fans were really into the game and you could almost compare it
to the environment we see at Michigan State or at Connecticut this season."
The early season tests and tough settings in the Big Ten have prepared the Lady
Lions for the test in front of them on Tuesday. If Sunday night's crowd was any
indication, the LSU faithful will be at full throat when the game tips at 9:30
p.m. Eastern.
Nutrition is Key Brad Pantall, the Lady Lions strength and conditioning coach, is not
going to make Alex Bentley sit at pregame meal until she finishes her
vegetables like her mother probably used to make her do, but he will continue
to remind her that hydration and proper nutrition are two key factors in the postseason.
If you want to be on the court on game day you have to take care of yourself
during your off days and the Lady Lions know that. That's why Pantall and
athletic trainer Natalie Meckstroth stress the importance of eating right,
staying hydrated and getting rest to recover from the rigors of travel and
competition.
In his seventh season with the program, Pantall has learned that keeping a balanced
training schedule and maintaining strength training and conditioning can be a
key. Keeping the players hydrated before, during and after practice and games
is a focal point and utilizing techniques like ice baths and massage therapy
can be just as important as the game plan for their next opponent.
"It's really important [for them to take care of themselves]," said
Pantall. "They have done a great job all season and they really buy in to a
healthy lifestyle with good nutrition. They get their rest and stay hydrated...Also,
after every practice, especially in a tournament situation, we do ice baths and
utilize massage therapy."
BATON
ROUGE, La. - The story line through the first 10 minutes was sloppy basketball
and a lot of easy baskets for Cal Poly's Molly Schlemer, but the No. 8 Penn
State Lady Lions weren't interested in letting that trend continue.
The flow of the game changed with 7:11 left to play in the first half. Early
on, Cal Poly did a nice job of running solid sets on offense and creating havoc
on the defensive end with their quick guards, until Penn State ratcheted up the
pressure on defense and turned a one-point deficit, 17-16, into a 10 point lead
at 27-17.
"I think it was a bit of [the layoff and getting a feel for the pace of game],"
said senior Alex Bentley. "We had a two week layoff and we just needed to get
back into the swing of things and it just took a little time. Once we got our
defense going it was a different game."
Maggie Lucas also took some time to get her shooting touch going, but found it
just before the half when she knocked down her first three pointer of the game
to push the Lady Lions lead to 10 points at the break.
That momentum carried into the second half as Mia Nickson converted the first
basket of the second half on a nice feed from Nikki Greene and the Lions were
off and running and on their way to an 85-55 victory.
The assist was one of three from the post players, who also accounted for 28
points, 33 rebounds, six blocks and one steal in the game. The posts were never
really in foul trouble, either, and connected on 12-of-18 shots from the field.
"We always say that there are five post [players] and we all have to contribute
in some way for us to be successful," said East. "We all know that our job is to
come in and fill the minutes we are asked to play."
I would say that they filled that role tonight. Nickson led all players with 13
rebounds and added 13 points for her fifth double-double of the season, while
Greene netted 11 points - shooting 5-for-5 from the field - to go along with eight
rebounds and a pair of assists.
But it was East that might have had the biggest impact on the game.
"I thought Talia was big for us," said head coach Coquese Washington. "She had
a fantastic night. I thought she was aggressive in defending [Schlemer] and the
rebounds that she provided were key for us getting out in transition and
getting some easy baskets."
To say that East was big for the Lady Lions might be an understatement. The
junior set new season-bests with 12 rebounds - six on the offensive end - and three
blocked shots, while adding four points.
I will credit all of that work to the statisticians, but what the box score did
show you is that she meant much more to her team than just the tangible numbers.
Tasked with guarding the 6-foot-5 Schlemer
for a large part of the game, East held the Big West Player of the Year to just
one rebound over the final 33 minutes of the game. She helped stunt on-ball screens
and negated access to the paint for the Cal Poly guards, as well as tapping out
missed shots that led to long rebounds and easy transition opportunities for
her teammates.
Those little things were not lost her teammates.
"The post play was phenomenal tonight," said Bentley, "and Talia really came to
play. They were crashing the boards hard, finishing around the rim and they
even made some nice passes out to the guards. They did their job tonight against
a very good player."
For East,
it was just another night of following the game plan that was set in front of
her; a game plan she followed to a tee.
"We knew that if we could shut
[Schlemer] down we could create problems for them," said East. "She's a good
player and they were looking to get the ball to her so we just tried to limit
her touches and make it tough on her."
For the unofficial Mayor of Penn State, as she is referred to by her head coach
and teammates, it was just another day
in the office.
"It was awesome," said East. "I love playing and any night I can get a couple
of points and grab a few boards I am happy. I smile while I am on the court
because I am excited to be there."
BATON, ROUGE, La. - Head into the media room following Penn State's
85-55 victory over Cal Poly in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Coquese Washington addresses the
media about the win over the Mustangs inside the Maravich Center.
Follow GoPSUsports.com's
Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
BATON ROUGE, La. - Head into the Penn State locker room following
Sunday's 85-55 victory over Cal Poly in the Maravich Center to hear from several
Lady Lions just after stepping off of the floor.
Follow GoPSUsports.com's
Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome back to in-game
coverage of 2012-13 Lady Lions women's basketball season. Insight
and reaction will be provided by GoPSUsports.com throughout the NCAA Women's
Basketball Tournament, so check back often as the postseason progresses.
Penn State
had a little rust to knock off in the opening part of their first round game
vs. Cal Poly and the Mustangs came out ready to play, but contributions from
everyone on the Lady Lions roster helped seal the 85-55 victory.
Get the complete run down of the victory below on the in-game live blog recap.
PHOTO BLOG - Images from Cal Poly game day
at the NCAA Tournament
Today's Game Preview in 140 Characters: #PennState must avoid letdown vs. Cal Poly...PSU
needs to limit post touches for CP's Schlemer and Lucas/Bentley/Taylor must
dictate pace First Five on the Floor (Starting lineups)
Lady Lions - G- Bentley, G- Lucas, G- Taylor, F- Nickson, C- Greene Mustangs- G- Elegado, G- Ervin, G/F-
Reeves, F- Allison, C- Schlemer
1st Half: 15:35 - No. 8/8 Penn State 4, Cal
Poly 4
The layoff has the Lady Lions a little rusty coming out of the gate, but they
are doing a nice job of working the ball inside and out, but haven't seen some
tough looks fall early. Mia Nickson and Nikki Greene have the two baskets for
PSU, while Molly Schlemer has all four of the Cal Poly points. The Lions have
already committed three turnovers, but the Mustangs are shooting just 14
percent (1-for-7) from the field. The pace has been to Penn State's liking,
they are just not converting.
1st Half: 11:54 - No. 8/8 Penn State 4, Cal
Poly 4
In just over eight minutes of play I can see why Schlemer was the Big West
Conference Player of the Year. The 6-foot-5 center has all 10 of Cal Poly's
points on 4-for-4 shooting with three rebounds. She is effective around the
basket and has a nice soft touch on her shot. She has also done a nice job
helping on the defensive end to make it tough on the PSU guards as they try to
penetrate into the lane. Penn State has not been able to get many good looks,
still, and their five turnovers aren't helping them find any flow on offense. They
also haven't been able to get out and run much because Cal Poly is really
crashing the boards.
1st Half: 7:45 - No. 8/8 Penn State 16, Cal
Poly 15
One of the keys to the game according to the coaching staff was going to be
keeping the Cal Poly guards out of the lane, but the Mustangs have been able to
penetrate and find their only offensive weapon so far in Schlemer. The Lions are still hitting a decent clip from
the floor at 44 percent and Alex Bentley has knocked down some big shots over the
last couple of minutes to give Penn State their first lead since the 14:30
mark.
1st Half: 3:22 - No. 8/8 Penn State 29, Cal
Poly 23
Trailing by one, 17-16, the Lady Lion turned up the defensive pressure and
reeled off 11 straight points to take their largest lead of the night at 10
points, but Cal Polly has answered back with a pair of three pointers -
including one off of a PSU turnover - and the Mustangs are hanging around at
the final media timeout of the first half. Edwards had a pair of layups during
the run, while Lucas added a pair of buckets, as well. Schlemer has only two
points over the last four minutes, in large part to Talia East's solid post
presence for the Blue and White.
End of 1st Half - No. 8/8 Penn State 38,
Cal Poly 28
Penn State was not crisp in the first half, but a Maggie Lucas three pointer at
the horn ended the first half and capped a 22-11 run to end the opening 20
minutes. The Lady Lions finished the first half with a 50 percent shooting mark
(17-for-34), while Cal Poly shot just 23 percent from the floor (8-for-34).
A few things that stick out form the opening half would be the free throw discrepancy
and the turnovers. Penn State was just 3-for-4 from the charity stripe, while
Cal Poly was 10-for-12 and the Mustangs forced nine PSU turnovers and committed
just six of their own.
The final ten minutes of the first half really belonged to Penn State, with the
Lions hitting 11 of their 19 shots, including their only three pointer, and the
smothering defense returned to form to hold Cal Poly to just 4 of their 17 attempts
from the floor. That trend will have to
continue in the second half for Penn State to remain ahead of the pesky
Mustangs who don't seem fazed by the No. 8 ranked Lions.
2nd Half: 15:50 - No. 8/8 Penn State 48,
Cal Poly 34
The execution has been there in spurts for the Lady Lions, but just when they
look like they are poised to take really take control of the game a mental
lapse or two occur and Cal Poly is able to convert. The Mustangs have been
getting the ball into the post a lot in the first four minutes of the second
half, but conversions haven't come easy thanks to Mia Nickson and Talia East.
The pace is right where Penn State wants it early in the second half, but more efficiency
is what will be needed down the stretch.
2nd Half: 11:45 - No. 8/8 Penn State 57,
Cal Poly 36
I still don't feel as if the Lady Lions have really found their footing after
the 15 day break and even with a 21 points lead I think there are some areas
that haven't been really crisp. But enough being a Negative Ned because Penn
State leads by 21 and has really done a nice job of working the ball inside and
out. With 13 points, Maggie Lucas is starting to find her stroke and Talia East
has 11 rebounds to lead all players, which is a nice site and another option
inside for PSU.
2nd Half: 7:41 - No. 8/8 Penn State 68, Cal
Poly 41
The Lions are starting to pull away in this one and Cal Poly has not had an
answer for the depth off of the Penn State bench. East and Nickson have pulled
down 25 of the teams 47 rebounds, with Nickson adding 13 points for her fifth
double-double of the season. Lucas has 19 points to lead the away and is
looking for her sixth such effort in the last seven game.
2nd Half: 7:41 - No. 8/8 Penn State 80, Cal
Poly 49
With four players in double figures, Penn State has all but sealed up a date
with either host LSU or Green Bay in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
This has been a marked improvement from the Lady Lions showing in Hoffman
Estates two weeks ago vs. Michigan State when they shot 22 percent from the field.
The Lions are hitting at 47 percent entering the final media timeout.
FINAL - No. 8/8 Penn State 85, Cal Poly
55
After muddling through the first 10 minutes of the game the Lady Lions turned
up the defensive pressure and took Cal Poly out of there game with solid inside
post play. A 44 percent shooting night and
four players in double figures didn't hurt either.
The game really turned with 6:57 to play in the first half after Ariel Edwards
layup pushed the Penn State in front 18-17. It was their first lead since the
14.30 mark, but it was a Maggie Lucas swipe and score that really got the Lions
energy going and sparked a 13-2 run to really opened up the game for PSU.
The trio Talia East, Nikki Greene and Mia Nickson pulled down 33 of the team's
52 rebounds, which were 13 more than CP, and even though Molly Schlemer netted
a game-high 24 points, but she only grabbed one rebound over the final 33 minutes
of the game.
The timely shooting of Alex Bentley and Maggie Lucas helped keep the offense
rolling, while East, Greene and Nickson combined to shoot 12-of-18 from the field.
What To Look For:
- Maggie Lucas is climbing the charts at Penn State
entering the NCAA Tournament. The junior currently has 1,810 points and is 88
points away from moving into sixth on the career scoring charts, which is
currently held by Suzie McConnell (1985-88) with 1,897. She is still a ways
away from the top spot on the career three-point record, but with ten made
treys in the tournament will become just the second player in program history with
300-plus shots made from beyond the arc.
- Penn State will be making its 24th NCAA Tournament appearance in school
history and the last ten of them have all came via the at-large bid. The last
time Penn State earned their bid via a conference title was in 1996 when they
claimed the Big Ten Tournament title. This also marks the second straight trip
to Baton Rouge, La. for the first and second round of the NCAA Tournament for
the Blue and White.
BATON ROUGE, La.
- Follow the Lady Lions journey through the NCAA Tournament on the
GoPSUsports.com Blog. We will have various modes of coverage during the
tournament, so check back at the NCAA Tournament Headquarters to stay updated
on what is going on with the Lady Lions.
Three Point Play: NCAA Tournament First
Round BATON
ROUGE, La. - Here are some sights and sounds from the Lady Lions Media Day
press conference and their opening practice on the main floor inside the Pete
Maravich Center on the campus of Louisiana State University.
Seniors Mia Nickson and Gizelle Studevent
talked to GOPSUsports.com during practice day and we've added a three-point
play's worth of notes that are included below.
Cal Poly/Penn State Meet for First
Time Penn State and Cal Poly will meet on the hardwood for the first time in
program history, which is a change from what the Lady Lions have been dealing
with since starting Big Ten play on Jan, 3.
After spending the better part of the last three months playing team's that are
familiar in style of play and in arenas that they have seen before, this time
of year presents the opportunity for new opposition.
The Lady Lions are 5-0 against teams from the Big West Conference, including an
85-73 victory over Cal State Northridge earlier this season, but have never
played Cal Poly. With so much unknown about the Mustangs, Penn State's players
know that the teams still alive at this time of year are all talented enough to
win on any given night.
"Everyone in the tournament is capable of beating anyone," said junior Maggie
Lucas. "Everyone is very talented and Cal Poly has a lot of strengths. We know we can't go into the tournament and
take them lightly. They're a good team
and they're [in the tournament], obviously."
David vs. Goliath, Or Not Penn State head coach Coquese Washington is a smart woman. With two
degrees from Notre Dame, the sixth year head coach is usually very measured
with her words and when she spoke to the media on Saturday she was very analytical
when asked about her team's matchup with Cal Poly.
"Right now the only thing we're focused on is how we're going to slow down
Schlemer, keep their guards out of the paint and what we need to execute to be
successful," said Washington.
Coach Washington wouldn't give the Mustangs any bulletin board material, but
then again there isn't much to give them when you look at their roster. They
have the Big West Player of the Year in junior Molly Schlemer - the fourth
consecutive Cal Poly player to earn the award - who averages 13 points and
seven rebounds per game.
Their guards - senior Kayla Griffin, junior Jonae Ervin and sophomore Ariana
Elegado - combine to average over 11 assists and add nearly 27 points per game.
Ervin ranks third in the NCAA with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.64 and Elegado
gives them an answer to Maggie Lucas on the outside, with the sophomore hitting
39 percent of her shots from beyond the arc.
They may be a 14 seed on the bracket, but coach Washington knows they will be a
formidable opponent.
"I think that [seeding] is great for fans, great for media," said
Washington. "It's something to talk about and gives an aura of, you know, David
and Goliath in every single game...As competitors, we don't see it that way. We don't look at the seedings and say this is
supposed to happen. They got the Big West Player of the Year and she is very
good.
Busy Beginning to Baton Rouge Trip It may be a business trip, but you can still have fin and the Lady
Lions have done just that since arriving in Baton Rouge on Thursday, March 21.
The team has practiced twice, met with the media, traveled to New Orleans and
are now in their final preparations for their game vs. Cal Polly at 5:15 p.m.
Eastern.
Below are links to some of the things that have occurred during the trip, so
far.
Tournament
Central - Up-to-date insight, photos, video and feature stories on the Lady
Lions First Day Practice Fun - Videographer
Matt Stephens Birthday Dance and Two-on-Two hoops with the staff Rue du Bourbon Video - The Lady Lions
enjoyed a trip to New Orleans Photo
Galleries - Follow all of the activities with photo galleries on the GoPSUSports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.
- Follow the Lady Lions journey through the NCAA Tournament on the
GoPSUsports.com Blog. We will have various modes of coverage during the
tournament, so check back at the NCAA Tournament Headquarters to stay updated
on what is going on with the Lady Lions.
The Lady Lions are back in the tournament for the third straight year and
will play in Baton Rouge, La. for the second straight year. Before Sunday's
game, let's take a look at a few storylines headed into the first round.
Seeding Won't Determine Outcome It's well documented how close the Lady Lions may have been to getting
a No. 2 seed in the tournament rather than the three seed they were given, but
it has been equally noted to the Penn State players that it doesn't matter.
Last year, Penn State made it to the Sweet 16 as a four seed and this year
as a three seed, the approach doesn't change.
"We thought we were going to be a two or a three [seed], but it is what it
is," said junior guard Maggie Lucas. "You still have to win six games to get to
the championship, that doesn't change due to your seed."
Experienced Tournament Team In 2012, no Lady Lion had made it out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament
and they weren't familiar with what it would take to make a deep run. Now,
every player on the Penn State roster has tournament experience, except for
true freshman Candice Agee.
"My freshman year no one had been to an NCAA tournament yet and now it's
become part of the culture again to be in the NCAA tournament every year," said
Lucas. "Candice is our only freshman and the only one that hasn't been to one,
but we're going to make sure she's prepared for it and you just have to take it
like any other game: one game at a time."
Not only have the Lady Lions have tournament experience, but they have
experience winning in Baton Rouge, La. and the environment they are headed into
with a possible matchup against LSU on its home court.
"It helps that we have the experience under our belt, it's always good and
it always helps," said senior guard Alex Bentley. "We have been there and we
have played in Baton Rouge, so we are ready to go."
On top of that, the Lady Lions have seen and played one of the perennial NCAA
tournament squads in Connecticut twice in the past year, including last year's Sweet
Sixteen matchup.
Lucas said that by playing Connecticut and being able to go against a team
that has made it to a Final Four reminds her team exactly what they need to do
to be able to make a run.
Matchups, Matchups, Matchups Cal Poly, LSU and Green Bay are all teams that the Lady Lions could
play in the coming weeks and are all teams that they aren't familiar with.
Now, instead of being able to have days to game plan and prepare, it
all comes down to matchups.
"The NCAA Tournament is all about matchups," said Lucas. "Game by game,
the teams with the advantages are the teams that have better matchups. That's
the great thing about the NCAA's, you get to play against people you haven't
played against and wouldn't play against all year."
Lucas sees this as an advantage after another grueling season in the
Big Ten.
"Especially coming out of the Big Ten where everybody scouts you to
death and you know each other so well, so now we are excited to play new teams."
LSU is the only team in the Spokane Region outside of conference foe
Michigan that Penn State has played within the last two seasons and the Lady
Lions would only see the eighth seeded Wolverines in the Elite Eight.
As for preparing themselves for the tournament, Washington said that
not much is changed, it's just making small adjustments here and there. No matter who Penn State may play throughout
the course of the tournament, Washington wants her team to focus on the only
thing they can control: themselves.
"We don't do a lot different, a lot of it is sharpening what we do,"
said Washington. "We are who we are at this point and we play how we play, so
it's not a lot of changing or adding things, it's just sharpening your skills
and getting ready to take your opponent's best [effort].
"We have just been focusing on what we need to do, focusing on
ourselves."
Used to Responding From a Loss The last time Penn State was on the court they fell to Michigan State
in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The last time Penn State dropped
back-to-back games this year? Never.
In fact, the Lady Lions haven't been on a two game losing streak since
Feb. 24 2011 when they fell to Ohio State and Purdue in back-to-back contests.
Washington and her team don't plan on breaking that trend any time soon.
"After every loss this year we were able to go back in the gym and fine
tune some stuff and keep our poise because we all know we have a mission and
want to accomplish that mission," said senior center Nikki Greene.
Since that loss, Penn State has had 15 days, its longest layoff this
season, to prepare for its first round matchup with Cal Poly.
After having a few days off after the Michigan State game, the Lady
Lions have used each and every day to get to where they want to be come Sunday.
"That is one thing we do a good job of is moving forward," said
Washington. "We don't worry about what happened yesterday whether it is a great
win or a disappointing loss. They have that confidence to go out and play with
a sense of urgency."
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.
- Follow the Lady Lions journey through the NCAA Tournament on the
GoPSUsports.com Blog. We will have various modes of coverage during the
tournament, so check back at the NCAA Tournament Headquarters to stay updated
on what is going on with the Lady Lions.
It almost feels like a time warp for the Lady Lions as they enter their
second round game in the NCAA Tournament. Penn State finds themselves preparing
to play LSU inside the Pete Maravich for the right to advance to the Sweet
Sixteen for the second straight season.
Penn State has taken trips to Texas A&M, Miami (Fla.) and Connecticut in the
non-conference slate and ran through the tough road schedule in the Big Ten to
accumulate a 9-4 record on the road. LSU owns a 14-3 record at home this year,
with those losses coming to in-state rival Tulane by two points, No. 14 Texas
A&M by 17 and No. 12 Tennessee by two.
