Penn State Lady Lions Weekly Preview: Nov. 6
The Lady Lions were off to a hot start to 2022-23, but have dropped their last two games against Virginia and Minnesota. Coach Carolyn Kieger looks to get her team back on track with two huge games this week against marquee opponents.
Penn State will be at home for both matchups this week, starting with its toughest test of the season against No. 4 Indiana. The Hoosiers have been led by star senior forward Mackenzie Holmes.
Holmes is averaging 20.9 points per game for the undefeated Hoosiers, while adding seven rebounds per game. Holmes has also been extremely efficient, shooting an impressive 69.6% from the field.
This will be a huge challenge for the interior of the Lady Lions defense, especially for forward Alexa Williamson. Williamson has been spectacular for the blue and white so far this season, averaging over eight points per game.
Where Kieger will need Williamson the most will be on the defensive end, trying to limit Holmes and the high-scoring Hoosiers offense. The Lady Lions and the Hoosiers will battle inside the Bryce Jordan Center on Dec. 8.
After taking on the Hoosiers, Penn State gets back into non-conference play when the Nittany Lions welcome West Virginia into the BJC. The Mountaineers are 6-1 on the year, and have one of the top guards in the Big 12, Madisen Smith.
Smith, the fifth-year senior, has been sensational for the Mountaineers in the early parts of the season. Smith is averaging 15.1 points per game, and has recorded 18 steals this season.
The 5-foot-5 guard for the Mountaineers has been impressive, but will go up against one of the best guards in the nation with Penn State guard Makenna Marisa who is coming off her best game of the season, recording a career-high 34 points and a career-best seven three-pointers in the Lady Lions’ double overtime loss to Minnesota.
Marisa is averaging 18.7 points per game on 46.7% from the field and 46.2% from behind the arc. The Lady Lions always knew Marisa was going to be the leader of this team, and the veteran star has lived up to the hype this year.
Along with Marisa, Kieger and the Lady Lions have received significant contributions from freshman Shay Ciezki. Ciezki has started the last eight games for Penn State, and is averaging 10 points per game in her first year in University Park.
With the emergence of Ciezki and the star power of Marisa, Kieger’s squad has been able to form one of the top backcourts in the Big Ten and will be a tough matchup for the West Virginia backcourt. The Lady Lions and Mountaineers battle inside the BJC on Dec. 11.
Coming off back-to-back defeats, Penn State needs to bounce back this week as the Nittany Lions have a pair of good chances to get key victories against tough opponents to boost its resume to prepare for the full Big Ten gauntlet come January.
Adam Sheetz is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ads360@psu.edu.
