The Penn State Lady Lions are starting off this season with high expectations as they are ranked 13th in the Associated Press preseason poll, the highest of the four Big Ten schools in the voting. In total the Lady Lions will face six teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25, including three squads from the Big Ten.

Earlier this week, Penn State was ranked 15th in the USA Today Sports Coaches’ Poll.

The Lady Lions will open the 2013 campaign against St. Francis (Pa.) on Fri., Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Pregame festivities will include the raising of the 2013 Big Ten Championship banner and give away commemorative championship ring banks to celebrate back-to-back Big Ten titles. The Lady Lions also face Fordham on Sun., Nov. 10 at 2 p.m.

According to a media poll taken earlier in the week during Big Ten media day, Penn State is projected to finish second in the conference this season. Senior guard Maggie Lucas was selected as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by both the league’s coaches and media and was a unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection.

The Lady Lions recently defeated Lock Haven 102-51 in an exhibition game on Oct. 27