Records: Penn State 19-10; Liberty 24-6
Coaches: Rene Portland is 581-203 in her 25th season at Penn State and 668-232 overall. Liberty has averaged 23 wins per season in five years under Carey Green's direction.
Series: Penn State and Liberty have never played each other.
Last time out: Penn State lost 83-76 to Michigan State in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament. Liberty ripped UNC-Ashville 88-41 in the final of the Big South tournament.
TV: espn2
Radio: Penn State Sports Network (Jerry Fisher, Matt McDonald).
Next up: The winner of this game faces the winner of the No. 5 DePaul-No. 12 Virginia Tech matchup.
Probable Starters:
Penn State - G Jess Strom, 5-7 Sr. (15.6 ppg), G Tanisha Wright, 5-11 Sr. (19.3 ppg), G Jennifer Brenden, 5-10 Sr. (5.1 ppg), F Ashli Schwab, 6-3 Sr. (6.3 ppg), F Amanda Brown, 6-4 So. (7.1 ppg).
Liberty - G Daina Staugaitiene, 5-10 Sr. (8.4 ppg), G Allyson Fasnacht, 5-8 Fr. (3.5 ppg), F Kristal Tharp, 5-10 Sr. (11.5 ppg), F Rima Margeviciute, 6-3 Sr. (9.2 ppg), C Katie Feenstra, 6-8 Sr. (17.6 ppg).
Quick Quiz: How far did the Lady Lions go in last year's NCAA tournament?
Penn State Notes:
• Penn State is 26-20 all-time in the NCAA tournament.
• The Lady Lions have reached the Sweet Sixteen in each of the last three seasons.
• Strom said the team's seniors want to make sure they finish the season without any regrets. "There's a sense of urgency now that every game could be your last," Strom said. "I think that motivates you."
• Penn State has not lost two games in a row since November.
• Strom has been resting her injured ankle but said she will be good to go Sunday.
• Stat Watch: Penn State turns the ball over 14.1 times per game.
Liberty Notes:
• The Lady Flames have made the tournament nine consecutive years but have not won a game in that span.
• Feenstra was the Big South's Player of the Year for the third straight season. She averages 17.6 points and 10.2 boards per game while shooting 68.5 percent from the field.
• Liberty outscored opponents by an average of 18.3 points per game in the regular season.
• The Lady Flames shoot 69.3 percent from the free throw line.
• Liberty lost to Ohio State 66-51 in the regular season, but held Big Ten Player of the Year Jessica Davenport to just six points.
• Stat Watch: Liberty turns the ball over 19.6 times per game.
Quiz Answer: Penn State made it to the Elite Eight last year before losing to Connecticut.
FOS Prediction: Penn State 72, Liberty 63
Comment: The Lady Lions should get through to the second round unless Feenstra completely takes over the game.
FOS Prediction Record: 13-2.
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