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P enn State has added two players to its 2019-20 roster. Graduate transfer Nia Staples and freshman Shay Hagans have joined the team as it prepares for its first season under coach Carolyn Kieger. Staples will be eligible immediately after earning her bachelor's degree at West Virginia. A 5-foot-8 guard from Cincinnati, she has two years of eligibility remaining while she pursues a master's degree in mental health counseling. At West Virginia, Staples redshirted after her knee was injured during her freshman season, and she played spar- ingly in the two seasons that followed. She saw action in 33 games, totaling 43 points, 31 rebounds and 19 assists. Earlier this year, Staples entered the transfer portal in search of a fresh start. Kieger predicted that she "will [have] an immediate impact on the court and in the locker room" at her new school. "Her intangibles as a person, student and player will be a great representation of Penn State Athletics," the Lady Lions' first-year coach said. "Additionally, she can affect the game on both ends of the floor. Her ability to stretch the court and make her teammates better will help take our program to another level." Coming out of Lakota West High School, Staples had been the No. 27 point guard in the country according to ESPN HoopGurlz. The Firebirds went 93-13 during her four seasons and won a Divi- sion I state championship in 2015. As a senior, Staples averaged 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.4 as- sists per game, winning Ohio Co-Player of the Year honors from The Associated Press. She finished her career with 1,270 points, 400 rebounds, 209 steals and a school-record 268 assists. Staples said she chose Penn State in large part because of the connection she made with Kieger and assistant coach Ginny Boggess. "I recall during my several telephone conversations before making my official visit that I immediately felt the love and genuineness and sincerity in both Coach Kieger and Coach Boggess's voices," Sta- ples said. "Once I arrived for my official visit, the entire coaching and support staff were so very welcoming and, in my heart, I knew it was the right fit for me. Because Coach Kieger has such a love and strong passion for the game, I was convinced that she would help me to get to the next level of my game. Starting new at Penn State is my opportunity to build great and long- lasting relationships with my new team and coaches that will grow while on the court and once the ball drops. I am look- ing forward to this new faith journey." Hagans is a 5-6 guard from Manassas, Va. She scored 1,420 points in her career at Osbourn Park High, winning All-Con- ference and team MVP honors all four years and leaving as the school's all-time leading scorer. "She is a fierce competitor who has elite speed," Kieger said. "Her vision and abil- ity to play in our up-tempo system were an immediate attraction to our staff. Shay will fit well into our system as a player, but more importantly, she will better our program as a teammate and person." Hagans said that during her official visit, Penn State felt like home to her. "It's such a diverse school where everyone connects very well," she said. Hagans rounds out a five-member fresh- man class that also includes guards Jayla James, Mya Bembry and Makenna Marisa and forward Anna Camden. ■ Kieger makes two additions to Lady Lions' 2019-20 roster W O M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L PSU set to welcome nine Big Ten opponents Almost everything is locked in for Penn State's 2019-20 campaign, as the Big Ten last month announced the dates and opponents for the conference season. In addition to seven nonconference home games, the Lady Lions will host nine Big Ten contests at the Bryce Jor- dan Center, where they have gone 36- 15 during the past three seasons. The Big Ten slate begins with a Dec. 28 home showdown against Min- nesota. Penn State will hit the road for back-to-back games against Michigan (Dec. 31) and Wisconsin (Jan. 4) before returning home to welcome Michigan State to the BJC on Jan. 9. The Lady Lions will travel to Ohio State on Jan. 12 before hosting Rutgers in the front end of a home-and-home on Jan. 16. After a trip to Northwest- ern on Jan. 19, Penn State will host In- diana on Jan. 23 before traveling to Purdue on Jan. 26. Penn State will then play three of its next four games at home, beginning with a Thursday night game against Iowa on Jan. 30. Northwestern travels to Happy Valley on Feb. 2. Penn State heads to Rutgers on Feb. 6 before re- turning home to host Illinois on Feb. 9. The game against the Illini will serve as Penn State's 14th-annual Play4Kay Game Benefiting Pink Zone. The final five games of the regular season feature three away games at Nebraska (Feb. 13), Iowa (Feb. 23) and Michigan State (March 1). The two home games during the final stretch include a Feb. 16 tilt against Maryland and a Feb. 27 contest against Michi- gan. ■ T H E S C H E D U L E STAPLES HAGANS

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