SP(
8 I THURSDAY, DEC. 2, 201
Foul
trouble
leads
to loss
By Alex Angert
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
With fewer than 30 seconds
left in the first half, senior
Steve Kirkpatrick had himself
a wide open 3-point shot. But
like a deer in headlights, he
froze, passed up on the shot
and opted for an off-balanced
attempt that ultimately
missed.
However, Kirkpatrick who
typically only plays in mop up
time, should have never even
been in that situation to begin
with.
But with the Nittany Lions'
in early foul trouble, coach Ed
DeChellis was forced to mix
things up in Penn State's 62-39
loss to Maryland as the Lions
struggled to find an answer for
Maryland's strong post pres
ence.
"We got into foul trouble
early," DeChellis said. 'ln the
first half they shot a lot of free
throws. Part of the emphasis
was to play hard without foul
ing but we didn't do that. We
shot one in the first half and
they shot nine or 10."
Nine minutes into the game.
Jeff Brooks picked up his sec
ond foul of the game, sending
the senior forward to the
bench for the rest of the half.
Twenty-one seconds later.
D.J. Jackson received foul No.
2 as well, this time to put Penn
State over the limit. Maryland
went to the line, hit both free
throws and took the lead.
At that point, seven of the
Terrapins 11 points came from
the charity stripe and from
there on, they never looked
back as the foul trouble took
See FOULS. Page 10.
Jackson shoots Wednesday
Nickson to face former team Thursday
By Ryan Loy
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
After going 2-1 in the Caribbean
Challenge in Mexico. the Lady
Lions got to return home and
practice in famil
iar facilities.
lbnight, sopho
mord' co-captain
Mia Nickson will
return to an old
home of her own when Penn State
(6-1) travels to Boston College (6-
0) for a 7 p.m. matchup with the
Eagles as part of the ACC Big Ten
Challenge.
Nickson played her freshman
season as an Eagle before trans
ferring to Penn State last season.
As a freshman for Boston College.
she averaged 1.6 points per game
a ,
*WV 1 , • •
•
,•• , .
Philadelphia vs. Houston
8:00 p.m., NFL Network
9
'
Q: Before last night, who won the last
basketball matchup between Penn State
and Maryland?
Wednesday's Answer. Joe Mauer signed
an extension in 2010 worth $lB4 million.
Talor Battle (12) goes up for a layup as Maryland's Jordan Williams (20) and Dino Gregory defend during the Terrapins' win Wednesday night
Lions struggle, fall to Terps
By Emily Kaplan
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Maryland left the door wide
open. The Nittany Lions just
couldn't capitalize or make the
wide-o en shots.
The Penn State
men's basketball
team (5-2) missed
a chance to make - -
a strong presea
son statement Wednesday night at
the Bryce Jordan Center, falling to
a vulnerable Maryland team 62-39
Rookies gain experience
By Andrew J. Cassavell
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
The 2010 Penn State football
season has a few defining charac
teristics.
The historic quarterback race
the major mile-
stones achieved
by Evan Royster
and Joe Paterno,
and the injuries that depleted both
sides of the ball injuries that
played a significant role in Penn
State's mediocre 7-5 record.
Those injuries, however, may be
the first defining characteristic of
the 2011 season. While players
who entered the season at promi
nent positions stood and watched
from the sidelines in street
and 2.0 rebounds per game
Now a forward for Penn State,
Nickson said she expects the
game to feel a lot like practices
from two years ago.
"I think the play will be pretty
much how it was at practice when
I was up there fighting for every
possession when I was against
Carolyn (Swords] and [Stefanie]
Murphy" Nickson said. 'A little
game of pick up, pretty much, is
what it's going to be like."
Penn State coach Coquese
Washington said the height of
Swords and Murphy who stand
6-foot-6 and 6-foot-4, respectively
is the biggest concern of the
Lions. Their size will test Nickson
and the other Penn State for
wards.
It was Washington who showed
Penn State's Hertzog Named
Trophy Semifinalist
Penn State's Corey Hertzog has been
named one of 15 semifinalists Wednesday
for the 2010 Missouri Athletic Club's
Hermann Trophy, honoring the national
player of the year
Hertzog led the nation and tied the Big
Ten record for goals in a season, scoring
20 for the Nittany Lions en route to the
team's 12th NCAA Championship berth.
NCAA Division I head coaches will vote
on the 15 semifinalists, narrowing the field
down to three finalists on Dec. 10. The 2010
MAC Hermann Trophy winner will be
announced on Jan. 7.
in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The Terrapins presented the
Lions with plenty of opportunities,
committing 17 turnovers, includ
ing 12 in the first half alone.
The electric BJC atmosphere
aided Penn State, as well. There
was a season-high 9,078 in atten
dance, including a student-organ
ized whiteout. Some fans held
handmade signs with messages
such as, "We Believe" while others
mugged the live ESPN camera
crews with gaudy costumes and
larger-than-life sized cardboards
clothes, their backups many of
them underclassmen got vital
experience they'll use next sea
son.
Chima Okoli, who filled in for
senior right tackle Lou Eliades
after he went down in late
September with a knee injury said
the experience he got this year
has made the game easier for him.
- I feel like I moved into the role
with a little more confidence," said
Okoli, before looking toward next
season. "I got one more shot at
this thing so I'll try and keep it
going."
Okoli, specifically, is a player
who benefited from the playing
time this season.
He came to Penn State as a
See ROOKIES, Page 10.
interest in Nickson when she
decided to transfer from Boston
College. After having recruited
her while coaching at Notre
Dame, Washington again reached
out to Nickson. From there.
Nickson fell in love with the cam
pus and Washington's vision for
the program.
After sitting out last year
because of transfer rules, Nickson
is back on the court. and
Washington said the 6-foot-2 for
ward brings a constant intensity to
the team.
"Mia is the kid, you have to go,
'Mia don't hurt anybody. We're just
walking through,' " Washington
See NICKSON, Page 10.
For coverage on Washington's press
conference I SPORTS, Page 12.
Gymnastics teams give
intimate showcase to fans
Students and fans of the Penn State
gymnastics teams braved the cold weather
Wednesday night when they got to meet
the gymnasts and watch them perform.
The teams held a "Meet the Team"
event for the first time at the White
Building as part of an effort to galvanize
student and community support and boost
attendance at home meets in the upcom
ing season.
Gymnasts from both teams introduced
themselves to the crowd ...
( 4 - i .A p, Read the full story on the gym
nastics teams' showcase for its
fans:
cutouts of celebrities such as
Justin Bieber and Betty White.
Yet the Lions
simply couldn't
build off any of
that and could
n't find the basket.
They shot an
unsightly 20.6 per
cent from the
floor, including a
3-for-27 perform
ance from 3-point
range. Penn State attempted a
season-high 68 field goals.
Okoli (52) attempts a tackle
Mia Nickson (24) shoots a jumper.
psucollegian.com
It comes down to just putting
the ball in the basket: . senior co
captain Talor Battle said. .And
unfortunately we didn't do that
tonight. -
The Lions' 39 points scored
were the fewest since their 38-33
victory at Illinois in the 2008-09
season.
With Wednesday's loss. Penn
State fell to 19-45 all-time vs. AC('
teams and snapped its three
game ACC Big Ten Challenge
winning streak. Meanwhile the
See LOSS. Page 10.
Quilico
happy
with
decision
After her freshman season
at Boston College, Cathy
Quilico found herself in a tough
situation.
She had just
finished
strong first
season with
the Eagles
leading the
team with 479
digs -- but she
simply wasn't
happy with the
program.
The 5-foot-I
Quilico knew
she wanted to
transfer, but
first she had to tell her best
friend, Audrey Eichler. The two
California natives and former
club teammates went to
Boston College together and
Quilico didn't know how to tell
Eichler about her plans.
Luckily for Quilico. she and
Eichler thought alike.
"It was funny because I did
n't know she had quit when we
came back for second semes
ter" Quilico said. "I was like.
See QUILICO. Page 10.
More coverage on women's vol
leyball SPORTS, Page 12.
Katie Silos Collegian
R THOUGHTS
Moyer should call it quits
Let's give credit where credit is due.
Jamie Moyer has been a solid big-league
pitcher for almost 25 seasons. He has even
remained effective recently, though he has
been able to keep his ERA under 4.00 once
since 2003.
Now going under the knife for Tommy
John surgery, he has announced plans to
return for the 2012 season, at 49 years old.
The surgery Ikas . been the kiss of death
for pitchers in tilleijr2os. There is no com
parison here. He is the oldest recipient of
the surgery to attempt a comeback
We applaud his enthusiasm, but there
may not be a market for his services when
that time comes.
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN
By Ryan Loy
COLLEGIAN