LADY LIONS POISED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP Penn State
returns nine letterwinners from
In 2011-12, the Lady Lions returned to the top of the Big Ten standings for the first time since 2003-04 with a 13-3 record in conference play and a 26-7 mark overall en route to their sixth overall Big Ten regular-season title and fourth outright crown. In addition, Penn State continued its climb on the national stage with a berth in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen with wins over UTEP and LSU before falling to Connecticut. The Lady Lions were ranked in both polls for all but one week of the season and finished ninth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and 11th in the Associated Press Top 25. With nine letterwinners, including four starters, and the addition of two McDonald’s High School All-Americans to the lineup, the expectations will remain high for the Lady Lions this season. “I am excited about the season,” head coach Coquese Washington said. “We return our nucleus, and the energy and the focus that the team has displayed is impressive. We are looking forward to defending the Big Ten title and we recognize it’s going to take a lot of hard work to do that. Our conference is really tough. But I have no doubt in my mind that our team is going to take that challenge head on and work to make that happen.” The Lady Lions return the highly-touted backcourt tandem of All-Americans Alex Bentley and Maggie Lucas. The pair, who are both on the 2013 Wade Watch List, were also selected to the All-Big Ten first team en route to their national accolades. Bentley was a WBCA honorable mention All-America selection, while Lucas took home Associated Press honorable mention All-America honors. Bentley was on the All-Big Ten first team for the second-straight season after finishing second in the Big Ten and in the Top 20 nationally in steals, averaging 3.0 per game. The Big Ten All-Defensive team choice led Big Ten action with 49 steals in 16 games. She is the first Lady Lion to lead the league in steals since Jess Strom paced the conference in back-to-back years in 2003-04 and 200405. Additionally, Bentley was 11th in the conference in scoring (14.1), fourth in assists (4.7) and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). She enters her senior season 10th on Penn State’s career assists list (455), 15th in scoring (1,335) and 12th in steals (216). “Alex is the most competitive player I have ever coached, both as an assistant and head coach,” Washington said. “Her competitive drive is what propels this team. When the stakes are at their highest, that’s generally when Alex performs her best. She’s a captain, she’s the unquestioned leader for this team and I have no doubt that her competitive nature and strong leadership skills are going to be significant for us this year. She’s improved aspects of her game every year.” Lucas turned in an outstanding sophomore campaign as she transformed her game to become more of a threat off of the dribble to compliment her long-range accuracy. Lucas was in the Top 20 in NCAA Division I in scoring (19.5 - 20th), free throw percentage (12th - .886) and three-point field goal percentage (.410 -
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Big Ten Championship
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8th). With 642 tallies a year ago, she became just the fourth different Lady Lion to score more than 600 points in a season. Additionally, the Narberth, Pa. native surpassed the 1,000-point plateau to become just the third sophomore in school history and 11th-fastest player in Big Ten history to accomplish the feat. Lucas enters her junior year 25th in Penn State history in scoring (1,194), third in threepointers (194) and first in career free throw percentage (.881). “Maggie is the most driven player I’ve ever coached in my entire coaching career,” Washington said. “Her work ethic is off the charts and, as talented as she is, she continues to get better each and every year because of that strong work ethic. She’s transformed her game from simply being a three-point shooter to being a dynamic scorer and player that can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. She truly enjoys playing the game of basketball and that passion is evident anytime she is on the floor.” Penn State also remains solid in the front court with the return of All-Big Ten performers Nikki Greene and Mia Nickson for their senior seasons. Greene continues to serve as a imposing threat on the interior for the Lady Lions, earning third team All-Big Ten honors a year ago. The senior center averaged a career-high 9.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season. She also rejected 46 shots a year ago to bring her career total to 176, which is fifth on Penn State’s career blocks chart. Greene became the 27th member of the Lady Lions’ 500-rebound club last season and is now 12th in school history with 723 caroms. “Nikki Greene is poised to have the best season she’s had since she’s been here at Penn State,” Washington said. “She’s worked on her game this summer and her confidence is at an all-time high. She’s feeling very comfortable on the court with what we are asking her to do within our style of play. That mental growth, coupled with her physical skills and attributes could lead her to have the best year that she’s had in a Penn State uniform.” Nickson missed nine games and large portions of three other contests last season as she fought through a series of injuries, but still averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She was named to the NCAA Tournament Kingston All-Region team after tallying 19 points, five rebounds and two steals against eventual National Semifinalist Connecticut. In Big Ten play, Nickson was eighth in rebounding (7.5) and 10th in field goal percentage (.455). She is a three-time team captain for the Lady Lions. “Last year, Mia did not play at 100% for much of the year and still was a huge impact for us. She helped lead us to a Big Ten Championship and Sweet Sixteen berth,” Washington said. “This year with her being healthy, I am looking forward to her having a dominating season for us on the court. She brings versatility, workmanship and a physical presence to our inside game. She’s a fantastic rebounder and she’s expanded her game to be more effective away from the basket.”
2012-13 Penn State Lady Lion Yearbook