# Penn State Lady Lions basketball

The Penn State Lady Lions basketball team represents Pennsylvania State University and plays its home games in the Bryce Jordan Center. In 2013, the Lady Lions became just the 12th program in NCAA Division I history to reach 850 wins. Penn State has won 8 regular season Big Ten titles and the first 2 Big Ten tournament titles in 1995 and 1996. Prior to joining the Big Ten, the Lady Lions competed in the Atlantic 10 conference. The Lady Lions have 25 NCAA tournament appearances as of 2014, the most in the Big Ten. The team's best post-season finish came in 2000 when the Lady Lions reached the Final Four before losing to eventual champion UConn. The Lady Lions captured the WNIT title in 1998 defeating Baylor 59–56 in Waco, Texas. Notable alumni include WBCA First Team All-Americans Suzie McConnell, Susan Robinson, Helen Darling, and Kelly Mazzante. ESPN correspondent Lisa Salters is the shortest player in Lady Lions history at 5'-2".

## Current coaching staff

| Position | Name | Year | Alma mater |
| Head coach | Carolyn Kieger | 2019 | Marquette University (2006) |
| Assistant coach | Terri Williams | 2022 | Penn State (1991) |
| Assistant coach | Sharnee Zoll-Norman | 2022 | Virginia (2008) |
| Assistant coach | Tiffany Swoffard | 2023 | Austin Peay State University (2002) |
| Assistant coach | Pam Brown | 2019 | UNC Charlotte (2006) |
| Assistant coach | Natisha Hiedeman | 2023 | Marquette University (2019) |
| Director of Program Development | Katie Glusko Sosnoskie | 2023 | West Virginia (2006) |

## Pink Zone at Penn State

Annually, the Lady Lions don pink jerseys in support of several organizations that fight breast cancer in what is now known as the "Pink Zone at Penn State" game. The Lady Lions were the first Division I team in the nation to wear pink jerseys, a growing trend in athletics. Then-head coach Rene Portland developed the idea in 2006 with money from the Big Ten Conference, and the first game (termed the "Think Pink" game) occurred in February 2007 against Wisconsin. In 2012, the Pink Zone at Penn State raised a record $203,000 to distribute to its beneficiaries.

## All-time season results

Statistics overview :
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Marie Litner (Independent) (1965–1970) ||||||
| 1965 | Marie Litner | 3–1 | | | |
| 1966 | Marie Litner | 3–2 | | | |
| 1967 | Marie Litner | 2–3 | | | |
| 1968 | Marie Litner | 4–2 | | | |
| 1969 | Marie Litner | 3–3 | | | |
| 1970 | Marie Litner | 5–1 | | | |
| Marie Litner: | Marie Litner: | 20–12 | | | |
| Mary Ann Domitrovitz (Independent) (1971–1974) ||||||
| 1971 | Mary Ann Domitrovitz | 6–2 | | | |
| 1972 | Mary Ann Domitrovitz | 4–3 | | | |
| 1973 | Mary Ann Domitrovitz | 3–5 | | | |
| 1974 | Mary Ann Domitrovitz | 5–3 | | | |
| Mary Ann Domitrovitz: | Mary Ann Domitrovitz: | 17–13 | | | |
| Pat Meiser (Independent) (1974–1980) ||||||
| 1974–75 | Pat Meiser | 7–7 | | | EAIAW Mid-Atlantic Tournament |
| 1975–76 | Pat Meiser | 10–10 | | | AIAW First Round |
| 1976–77 | Pat Meiser | 13–8 | | | EAIAW Mid-Atlantic Tournament |
| 1977–78 | Pat Meiser | 21–5 | | | EAIAW Mid-Atlantic Tournament |
| 1978–79 | Pat Meiser | 21–8 | | | EAIAW Mid-Atlantic Tournament |
| 1979–80 | Pat Meiser | 20–14 | | | EAIAW Mid-Atlantic Tournament |
| Pat Meiser: | Pat Meiser: | 92–52 | | | |
| Rene Portland (Independent, Atlantic 10 (1982–1991), Big Ten (1992–Present)) (1980–2007) ||||||
| 1980–81 | Rene Portland | 19–9 | | | EAIAW Mid-Atlantic Tournament |
| 1981–82 | Rene Portland | 24–6 | | | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| Atlantic 10 Conference ||||||
| 1982–83 | Rene Portland | 26–7 | | | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1983–84 | Rene Portland | 19–12 | 6–2 | 2nd | NCAA first round |
| 1984–85 | Rene Portland | 28–5 | 7–1 | 1st (tie) | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1985–86 | Rene Portland | 24–8 | 12–4 | 1st (tie) | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1986–87 | Rene Portland | 23–7 | 16–2 | 2nd | NCAA second round |
| 1987–88 | Rene Portland | 20–13 | 11–7 | 4th | NCAA second round |
| 1988–89 | Rene Portland | 14–14 | 12–6 | 4th | |
| 1989–90 | Rene Portland | 25–7 | 15–3 | 3rd | NCAA second round |
| 1990–91 | Rene Portland | 29–2 | 17–1 | 1st | NCAA second round |
| Independent ||||||
| 1991–92 | Rene Portland | 24–7 | | | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| Big Ten Conference ||||||
| 1992–93 | Rene Portland | 22–6 | 14–4 | 3rd | NCAA second round |
| 1993–94 | Rene Portland | 28–3 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA Elite Eight |
| 1994–95 | Rene Portland | 26–5 | 13–3 | 1st | NCAA second round |
| 1995–96 | Rene Portland | 27–7 | 13–3 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1996–97 | Rene Portland | 15–12 | 8–8 | 6th | |
| 1997–98 | Rene Portland | 21–13 | 8–8 | 7th | WNIT Champions |
| 1998–99 | Rene Portland | 22–8 | 12–4 | 2nd | NCAA second round |
| 1999-00 | Rene Portland | 30–5 | 15–1 | 1st | NCAA Final Four |
| 2000–01 | Rene Portland | 19–10 | 11–5 | 4th | NCAA first round |
| 2001–02 | Rene Portland | 23–12 | 11–5 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2002–03 | Rene Portland | 26–9 | 13–3 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2003–04 | Rene Portland | 28–6 | 15–1 | 1st | NCAA Elite Eight |
| 2004–05 | Rene Portland | 19*-11 | 13–3 | 3rd | NCAA first round |
| 2005–06 | Rene Portland | 13–16 | 6–10 | 7th | |
| 2006–07 | Rene Portland | 15–16 | 7–9 | 5th | |
| Rene Portland: | Rene Portland: | 606*-236 | 271–95 | | |
| Coquese Washington (Big Ten) (2007–2019) ||||||
| 2007–08 | Coquese Washington | 13–18 | 4–14 | 10th | |
| 2008–09 | Coquese Washington | 11–18 | 6–12 | 7th | |
| 2009–10 | Coquese Washington | 17–14 | 8–10 | 6th | WNIT First Round |
| 2010–11 | Coquese Washington | 25–10 | 11–5 | 2nd | NCAA second round |
| 2011–12 | Coquese Washington | 26–7 | 13–3 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2012–13 | Coquese Washington | 26–6 | 14–2 | 1st | NCAA second round |
| 2013–14 | Coquese Washington | 24–8 | 13–3 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2014–15 | Coquese Washington | 6–24 | 3–15 | 13th | |
| 2015–16 | Coquese Washington | 12–19 | 6–12 | 11th | |
| 2016–17 | Coquese Washington | 21-11 | 9-7 | 7th | WNIT Third Round |
| 2017–18 | Coquese Washington | 16-16 | 6-10 | 11th | WNIT First round |
| 2018–19 | Coquese Washington | 12-18 | 5-13 | 12th | |
| Coquese Washington: | Coquese Washington: | 209–169 | 98–111 | | |
| Carolyn Kieger (Big Ten) (2019–Present) ||||||
| 2019–20 | Carolyn Kieger | 7–23 | 1–17 | 14th | |
| 2020–21 | Carolyn Kieger | 9–15 | 6–13 | 11th | |
| 2021–22 | Carolyn Kieger | 11–18 | 5–13 | 12th | |
| 2022–23 | Carolyn Kieger | 14–17 | 4–14 | T–12th | |
| 2022–23 | Carolyn Kieger | 19–12 | 9–9 | T–6th | WBIT |
| Carolyn Kieger: | Carolyn Kieger: | 60–85 | 25–66 | | |
| Total: | Total: | 1,007–563 (.641) | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||
* The Lady Lions finished 19–11 in 2004–05, but three wins were credited to assistant head coach Annie Troyan.
Source:

## Postseason results
### NCAA Division I

| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1982 | #4 | First Round Sweet Sixteen | #5 Clemson #1 USC | W 96-75 L 70-73 |
| 1983 | #5 | First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | #4 NC State #1 Cheyney #2 Old Dominion | W 94-80 W 73-72 L 60-74 |
| 1984 | #8 | First Round | #1 Old Dominion | L 65-87 |
| 1985 | #3 | First Round Sweet Sixteen | #6 UNC #2 Ohio State | W 98-79 L 78-81 |
| 1986 | #3 | First Round Sweet Sixteen | #6 NC State #2 Rutgers | W 63-59 L 72-85 |
| 1987 | #5 | First Round | #4 Ole Miss | L 75-80 |
| 1988 | #9 | First Round Second Round | #8 La Salle #1 Auburn | W 86-85 L 66-94 |
| 1990 | #7 | First Round Second Round | #10 Florida State #2 Virginia | W 83-73 L 64-85 |
| 1991 | #1 | Second Round | #8 James Madison | L 71-73 |
| 1992 | #3 | Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #11 DePaul #2 Ole Miss | W 77-54 L 72-75 |
| 1993 | #3 | Second Round | #6 Georgetown | L 67-68 |
| 1994 | #1 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | #16 Fordham #9 Kansas #4 Seton Hall #6 Alabama | W 94-41 W 85-68 W 64-60 L 82-96 |
| 1995 | #2 | First Round Second Round | #15 Jackson State #7 NC State | W 75-62 L 74-76 |
| 1996 | #2 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #15 Youngstown State #10 Kent State #6 Auburn | W 94-71 W 86-59 L 69-75 |
| 1999 | #8 | First Round Second Round | #9 Virginia #1 Louisiana Tech | W 82-69 L 62-79 |
| 2000 | #2 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four | #15 Youngstown State #7 Auburn #3 Iowa State #1 Louisiana Tech #1 Connecticut | W 83-63 W 75-69 W 66-65 W 86-65 L 67-89 |
| 2001 | #6 | First Round | #11 TCU | L 75-77 |
| 2002 | #4 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #13 Chattanooga #5 FIU #1 Connecticut | W 82-67 W 96-79 L 64-82 |
| 2003 | #4 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #13 Holy Cross #5 South Carolina #1 Tennessee | W 64-33 W 77-67 L 58-86 |
| 2004 | #1 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | #16 Hampton #8 Virginia Tech #5 Notre Dame #2 Connecticut | W 79-42 W 61-48 W 55-49 L 49-66 |
| 2005 | #4 | First Round | #13 Liberty | L 70-78 |
| 2011 | #6 | First Round Second Round | #11 Dayton #3 DePaul | W 75-66 L 73-75 |
| 2012 | #4 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #13 UTEP #5 LSU #1 Connecticut | W 85-77 W 90-80 L 59-77 |
| 2013 | #3 | First Round Second Round | #14 Cal Poly #6 LSU | W 85-55 L 66-71 |
| 2014 | #3 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #14 Wichita State #11 Florida #2 Stanford | W 62-56 W 83-61 L 57-82 |

### AIAW Division I

The Nittany Lions made one appearance in the AIAW National Division I basketball tournament, with a combined record of 0–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1976 | First Round Consolation First Round | Delta State Southern Connecticut State | L, 46–88 L, 51–63 |

## Awards and honors
### Atlantic 10 awards

| Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Kahadeejah Herbert, 1985 Susan Robinson, 1991 | Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year Suzie McConnell, 1985 Susan Robinson, 1989 Helen Holloway, 1991 | Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Rene Portland, 1983 |

### Big Ten awards

| Suzy Favor Big Ten Female Student-Athlete of the Year Kelly Mazzante, 2004 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Tanisha Wright, 2003, 2004, 2005 Dara Taylor, 2014 Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball Helen Darling, 2000 Kelly Mazzante, 2003, 2004 | Big Ten Player of the Year Helen Darling, 2000 Kelly Mazzante, 2003, 2004 Maggie Lucas, 2013, 2014 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Kelly Mazzante, 2001 Maggie Lucas, 2011 | Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Maggie Lucas, 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year Rene Portland, 1994, 2000, 2003, 2004 Coquese Washington, 2012, 2013, 2014 |

### National and regional awards
#### Wade Trophy

* 1992, Susan Robinson

#### Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award

* 1988, Suzie McConnell
* 2000, Helen Darling
* 2013, Alex Bentley

#### CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year

* 2004, Kelly Mazzante

#### Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Year

* 1991, Susan Robinson

#### WBCA Coach of the Year

* 1991, Rene Portland
* 2004, Rene Portland

#### USBWA Coach of the Year

* 1991, Rene Portland
* 1992, Rene Portland

#### Black Coaches & Administrators Female Coach of the Year

* 2011, Coquese Washington
* 2013, Coquese Washington