By Alexis Morgan, Originally appeared on GoPSUsports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Lady Lions battled head-to-head against Texas Tech for most of Sunday’s game and landed on top with a 76-68 victory. With the win, the Lions move to 7-2 while handing Texas Tech their first loss in their season.
The Lady Lions took charge, exploding out of the gates with a 9-0 lead. Throughout the afternoon, co-captain Mia Nickson was a key factor in the victory, establishing a dominating performance on both sides of the ball.
In her first career start, Nickson earned her first ever double-double, posting career highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds. Nickson contributed heavily at both ends of the court. Offensively, Nickson’s 26 points led the team with point guard Alex Bentley tallying 16. On defense, Nickson was under the basket with every Lady Raider shot, grabbing rebounds, and surpassing a career of 100 boards.
This season, the Lady Lions have been plagued with slow starts. Therefore, Coach Washington decided to switch up the starting line-up by adding Nickson in hopes that her physical presence would fire up the team.
“We were getting off to a slow start and I thought that if we could get Mia [Nickson] in the lineup [we could turn things around] ,” Washington said. “One thing she is pretty good at is rebounding the ball and she is good defensively. If we are going to struggle offensively, we could at least get some extra possessions with her crashing the glass. Just with her energy and the way she plays [could give us the spark we need].”
Nickson was unaware that she would start Sunday until game time, but said she would support her team in all aspects.
“I don’t mind coming off the bench,” Nickson said. “I told coach that if she needed me to start, I could. Whatever the team needs, I’m here to support. If they need me to start, that would be fine.”
Washington thought starting Nickson brought the edge the team needed to defeat Texas Tech.
“[I] definitely feel like she did [help the team to a quicker start],” Coach Washington said. “She did a fantastic job posting up and giving us offense inside. At times we have struggled to get offense from in the paint and she gave us that. It put pressure on their defense.”
“She was amazing down low, getting the other post players in foul trouble, making her shots, posting up strong and getting rebounds. Her performance tonight was really great,” teammate Alex Bentley said.
Coming into the game, Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry was prepared to perhaps see a dominant performance by Nickson.
“Just how hard she works,” coach Curry said. “Her energy level is tremendous. She just plays so hard and is very intense and works and reworks and is relentless in what she’s trying to do. Have to give her a lot of credit, she really worked hard and was a huge concern coming in.”
Nickson’s intensity on the court and hustle for every play indeed set the tone and energized the entire team.
“[Those plays] are humungous,” Washington said. “They give us that added jolt of energy. When we can get around and get those hustle plays, it just breeds confidence among everybody. It spreads. You then see Maggie Lucas diving on the floor and you see Renee Womack diving in the passing lane. [Nickson’s] energy is definitely infectious.”
