The Daily Collegian Royster, By Andrew J. Cassavell COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Evan Royster has a theory as to why it seems so easy for quarterback Matt McGloin some times. Just watch the opposing line backers, the run- _» ning back said. FOOTBALL When Penn State's " id “ ' ground game is clicking. Royster said line backers blatantly creep toward the line of scrimmage, anticipat ing more runs In the last two weeks, that has afforded McGloin the chance to find plenty of space in the opponent's secondary. Royster and McGloin agreed it's no coincidence the gaudy num bers put up by the former walk-on quarterback have coincided with Lady Lions hoping to improve team defense By Ryan Loy A’, staff WRITER Mon- than a third of the Lady Lions' points came off turnovers Sunday. But coach Coquese Washington believes the team s defense still has a lot of room for improve' WOMEN'S BASKETBALL The Lions played well enough to stifle an inexperienced Division II Gannon squad in Sunday's exhibition. !)1- 58. In doing so. Penn State outscored the Golden Knights. 33- Junior guard Gray producing from beyond the arc By Jake Kaplan Sharp shooting freshman guard Maggie Lucas is thought to be the biggest threat from the perimeter for the Penn State Lady Lions this season. However, it was junior Zhaque Gray who showed off her range in Sunday's exhibition game blowout win against Gannon <Pa.> at the Kivee .lordan Center. Gray, who averaged only four points per game in her first two years at Penn State, was perfect Join faculty and fellow students to learn more about studying next summer in Brazil Culture. Economics, and Language Wednesday, November 10 5:30 p.m. 10 Life Sciences Building ( M Agricultural Vit/ru.c ut. .'t trie I them! A: running two jf the Nittany Lions' three-best rushing totals of the season. "It’s all about the flow of the linebackers,’’ Royster said. "Getting into the second and third drive of the second half [Saturday], they were all flying toward the run fakes. It opens things up for Matt, and he makes some good decisions." This weekend the Lions travel to Ohio State, which boasts the conference's top-ranked defense. Running the ball to create space in the secondaiy will be vital, but it figures to be a chore as the Buckeyes’ run defense is tops in the league. It allows just 2.7 yards per carry the only Big Ten team under three. If Penn State can’t run the ball, McGloin said to expect similar 12. off turnovers. Despite that sig nificant advantage, Washington said the Lions need to work on their team defense "I think we got to have better help-side rota tion." Washington said. The Lions' coach referred to the inability for Washington her players to step away from the player they covered and prevent opponents from driv ing uncontested to the basket Sunday. from beyond the arc Sunday. The 5-foot-8 guard knocked down all four of her 3-point attempts, which accounted for two-thirds of Penn State's 3-pointers, and finished the game with 14 points in her 20 min utes of playing time before fouling out with six seconds left in the game. Gray, who started the game at shooting guard after making just nine starts in her first two sea sons. said she works on her out side game a lot at practice, always trying to improve. This season, in which Penn State will attempt to C olk-gc o! Arts ami Architecture. C files'*.- "f Health and Human Sme.il (. olici'c of Business. , ; :v. Lniversits Office at Gloh.ii [‘royram' SPORTS game setting up McGloin results to Saturday’s first half, when Northwestern jumped out to a 21-0 lead. Ultimately, McGloin said it was Royster and true freshman Silas Redd who started the turn around. “Everybody got off to a slow start in the beginning of the game, but they [Royster and Redd] start ed to pick things up,” McGloin said. McGloin also noted the pres sure taken off him when the back field performs. In Penn State's four second-half scoring drives when McGloin was at his best with three touch down passes the Lions ran the ball 18 times, nearly twice as often as their 10 passes. That's the way it needs to be the rest of the season. Royster said, Sophomore co-captain Mia Nickson acknowledged the team needs to improve its help-side rotation, but she believes the Lions have improved their on-the ball defense since the of presea son. Gannon coach Cleve Wright gave credit to the Lions' defense for many of the turnovers, but said some of the Golden Knights' offen sive struggles came from their youth. Gannon went 37-1 last sea son. but it lost all five starters to graduation. Wright said the Lions did a good job of denying the ball on defense, which caused some of his players build off its best season last year since 2004-05, Gray hopes to increase her total of 38 3-pointers on 30.6 percent shooting from downtown that she tallied in her first two seasons. “IPenn State coach Coquese Washington] keeps telling me to shoot the shots that I'm good at." Gray said after Sunday's game, which was the Lady Lions' final tune-up before they open the reg ular season Friday night at Dayton. “So. I just keep doing what she tells me to do at the two position." pennState especially given the improvement of the offensive line over the last three games. “It’s all about game planning,” Royster said. “We’re coming out, and the confidence of our offen sive line is growing every game. ” Royster laughed when asked just how much bigger the holes are now than they were in the sea son’s opening weeks when the Lions couldn't get anything estab lished on the ground. “Every now and then you get a hole and you’re just like, ‘Whoa,’ " Royster said. "It’s a good feeling because this offensive line is getting that confi dence." The run game has led to more play action opportunities a vital part of McGloin’s game. The perfect example, he said, to get out of sync offensively. He believes pressure takes away the desire of some players to handle the ball. "Everybody has to want the ball. Everybody has to be an option." Wright said. The combination of Gannon's inexperience and just enough pressure from the Lions' defense led to 15 Penn State steals, while Gannon had onlv four. Though the statistics indicate a solid defensive performance. Washington said she would like to see better focus from her team. Washington also wants to see more involvement on rebounding Washington hopes Gray's long range shooting is a big component during the regular season. The coach said she has been encour aging Gray to "just shoot the ball." "She puts time into it, but some times she gets out there and she is thinking and wants to be a play maker," Washington said in her post-game press conference Sunday. “Her value to our team is her ability to make shots. The more she looks for her shots, I think the more confident she will get." Gray got off to a hot start V T tUtV' S' Day one and there's no telling what you can achieve Global insight. Opportunities to grow. An inter nship <rt Ernst & Young offers you all this and more. Freni dnv one, you'll be part of an inclusive environment that welcomes your point of view and supports whatever you bring to the table. We're looking for future- leaders, so this is your chance to show us what you've got. New f hj!;o r v)f- What’s next for your future? Text EYEDGE to 58592 to learn more about our people, culture and opportunities. s!l Ernst &Young Quality In Everything We Do Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010 I 9 came on McGloin’s 36-yard game tying touchdown pass to Derek Moye. Although Redd was standing on the sideline and Royster stood in the backfield without having to block anyone, McGloin said they were the most vital pieces in mak ing the deep ball work. “We run play action to Derek Moye over the top that’s an example of what those guys bring to the table,” McGloin said. Senior center Doug Klopacz said that’s never been more obvi ous than it was Saturday. But Klopacz noted the benefits of a good run game aren’t limited to statistics. “It opens up everything else,” Klopacz said. To e-mail reporter: a]cs23B@psu.edu from the guards because she believes there was too much pres sure on the forwards to corral balls after missed shots. Improved defense and rebound ing can help the Lions transition into their desired fast-paced offense. However, Washington wants her team to pay attention to its defense before it looks to score. "We want to have a commit ment to defense. We gave up 58 points, but I did not feel like our defensive focus was where it needed to be for the whole 40 min utes," Washington said. To e-mail reporter: rmlsl3B@psu.edu Sunday, hitting three of her 3- pointers in the first half, all from different spots on the court. She finished the game as one of five Lady Lions who scored in double digits, adding an extra component to the balanced Penn State offense. Gannon coach Cleve Wright said Gray's 3-pointers were a big difference in the game. "When Gray is knocking it down." Wright said, "boy. it tears vour heart out." To e-mail reporter: Jyksl42@psu.edu UNIVGRSUM TOP 100 inKAI I MP! (»I- R
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