UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State Lady Lion guards Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Maggie Lucas (Narbeth, Pa.) are among 25 players that have been named to the "Wade Watch" list for the State Farm Wade Trophy, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Tuesday (Sept. 18). Bentley and Lucas are two of the five Big Ten players on the preseason list, which also includes Ohio State's Tayler Hill and the Nebraska duo of Jordan Hooper and Lindsey Moore.
Bentley, who is one of 34 Lady Lions to score 1,000 career points, is on the Wade Watch for the second consecutive season. The senior is coming off an outstanding 2011-12 campaign where she was selected All-Big Ten first team for the second time in her career and garnered WBCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades. The point guard currently sits 10th on Penn State's career assists chart (455), 15th in scoring (1,335) and 12th in steals (216). Bentley is the first Lady Lion to lead the conference in steals (3.1) since Jess Strom led the league in 2003-04 and 2004-05.
Lucas, who was named Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press last year, was also selected to the All-Big Ten first team accolades in 2011-12. The junior became just the third sophomore in school history and 11th-fastest player in Big Ten history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Additionally, Lucas was third in the conference and 20th in the NCAA in scoring with a 19.5 scoring. With 642 points last year, she is the fourth person in school history to surpass the 600-point mark in a season, joining Suzie McConnell (1988), Susan Robinson (1990) and Kelly Mazzante (three times). The Narberth, Pa., native leads the Lady Lions' career free throw percentage chart (.881) entering her junior campaign and sits third in school history in career three-pointers list (194) and 25th in career scoring list (1,194).
Now in its 36th year, the State Farm Wade Trophy is named in honor of the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade. Regarded as "The Heisman of Women's Basketball," the award is presented annually to the NCAA® Division I Player of the Year by the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) and the WBCA.
The preseason list is composed of top NCAA Division I women's basketball players who best embody Wade's spirit from 18 institutions and eight conferences. A committee of coaches, administrators and media from across the United States compiled the list using the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.
Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are available by calling 800-NITTANY. Season tickets are $99 for adults and $50 for youth (12 and under), this includes a Nittany Lion Kids Club Membership for 2012-13. The PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, 10 that can be redeemed in any combination for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets throughout the year and two extra vouchers for the Nittany Lions' Coaches Vs. Cancer game and the Lady Lions' Pink Zone game.
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