Penn State Women’s Basketball Weekly Preview
The Lady Lions had a tough go of things on their road trip last week, falling to Nebraska and Iowa. Coach Carolyn Kieger and the team have a great opportunity to bounce back this week when they return to the Bryce Jordan Center for two huge conference matchups.
The homestand starts tonight when Penn State welcomes Minnesota inside the BJC. The blue and white dropped the first matchup of the season against the Golden Gophers on the road, falling 98-96 in double overtime.
Minnesota has dropped five straight games, and sit at 8-10 on the year and 1-6 in conference play. The Gophers are very balanced on their attack, with all five starters averaging over 10 points per game this season.
Freshman guard Mara Braun has been the star for the team, averaging 15.4 points per game while also leading the team with three-pointers made on the year with 34. Braun is the star on a very young Minnesota team, and will need to play huge for them to get the sweep over the Lady Lions.
Penn State is looking for revenge, and could use another great performance from their star freshman Shay Ciezki. In the team’s last outing, the freshman guard led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists in the loss against Iowa.
Ciezki scored 13 in the loss to Minnesota earlier in the season, and has improved throughout her first season in the program. Against a young team like Minnesota, Ciezki could have the opportunity to play huge for Penn State as they look to snap their two-game skid.
After the Minnesota game, the Lady Lions will welcome Wisconsin to the BJC on Sunday to take on the Badgers. Wisconsin has struggled immensely throughout the season, sitting at 6-12 on the season.
One positive the Badgers have had this season is the production of their starting five throughout the season. Wisconsin’s entire starting lineup is averaging over 10 points per game, led by senior guard Julie Pospisilova.
Pospisilova is averaging 13.1 point, five rebounds and four assists per game this year and leading the way for the struggling Badgers. Pospisilova is a taller guard with great scoring ability, and could give the Lady Lions’ defense problems all game.
Countering Pospisilova will be Penn State’s star Makenna Marisa. Marisa is one of the best players in the entire Big Ten, especially when it comes to her scoring ability.
Marisa is averaging 17.7 points per game on the year, and adds over four rebounds and four assists on the year. Marisa is coming off her worst game of the season, only scoring five points on 2-for-13 shooting from the field against the Hawkeyes.
Marisa has had some of her top offensive performances of her career this season, and will be due for more big games when Minnesota and Wisconsin come to the BJC.
The Lady Lions are trying to snap this losing streak and get back on track, and these two games will be huge for helping to keep the team in the hunt for the postseason this year.
Adam Sheetz is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ads360@psu.edu.
