Grant Tabbed Big Ten Women’s Basketball Co-Player of the Week

Junior claims the second weekly honor of her career UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.; January 27, 2009 — Lady Lion junior guard Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) was selected as the Big Ten Women's Basketball Co-Player of the Week after scoring 32 points, including the game-winner at the buzzer, in the come-from-behind win over Wisconsin Thursday night. Grant, who earns weekly honors for the second time in her career (Dec. 17, 2007), shares this week's award with Ohio State sophomore post Jantel Lavender.   Grant scored 32 of Penn State's 58 points and drained the game-winning jumper as time ran out to almost single-handedly lift Penn State to a 58-56 overtime win against Wisconsin Thursday. With the Lady Lions trailing by 17 points with just over 10 minutes remaining, Grant knocked down a three-pointer with 10:05 left in the game to spark a 19-0 that pushed Penn State to the OT win. Grant's effort was the second-highest scoring performance of her career, trailing only her 33-point game at Iowa (Feb. 18, 2007) her freshman year, and is tied for 28th on PSU's single-game scoring chart. She is one of only eight players in school history to have multiple 30-point games in their career.   Grant has reached the 20-point plateau 10 times this season and 21 times in her career. Her 10 games with 20 or more points this season are the most by a Lady Lion since Tanisha Wright had 13 games with 20 or more points. Grant also became the 23rd player in school history to surpass the 1,200-point mark against the Badgers.   Grant currently ranks second in the Big Ten in overall scoring at a 19.3 per game clip and is also among the conference leaders in steals (10th-1.72), three-point field goal percentage (11th-.354) and three-pointers per game (7th-1.61).   Penn State's last Big Ten Player of the Week selection was Mashea Williams on Jan. 7, 2008. The Lady Lions continue their road swing at Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 1, where they will participate in the Hawkeyes' WBCA Pink Zone Day. Penn State returns to the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday, Feb. 5 to face Minnesota at 7 p.m. The game against the Gophers is $1 Dog Night. For information on Lady Lion Basketball tickets, call the Penn State ticket office at 814-865-5555.   The 2009 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State proudly supported by Mimi Barash Coppersmith (formerly known as THINK PINK Day) will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m., as the Lady Lions take on Iowa in the Bryce Jordan Center. The game can be seen on www.bigtennetwork.com. The first two Pink Zone events have raised more than $50,000 for breast cancer awareness. This year's fundraising efforts will benefit the Penn State Hershey Breast Cancer Institute, the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. For more information on the Pink Zone at Penn State, visit the official Pink Zone website at www.gopsusports.com/pinkzone.   —LADY LIONS—