PSU women pick up victory in non-conference action

Strong Second Half Lifts Lady Lions To 80-59 Win Over American

Carter and Page lead the way in non-conference finale

Courtesy of PSU athletics

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women’s basketball team put together its most efficient offensive performance of the season to capture a dominant 80-59 win over American Sunday afternoon in the Lady Lions’ non-conference finale at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State and American were tied 33-33 at the half before the Lady Lions outscored the Eagles 47-26 in the second half. PSU dished a season-best 22 assists, while committing a Penn State Bryce Jordan Center record-low five turnovers, as the Lady Lions tied their season high with 80 points to wrap up non-conference play with a 7-4 record.

The senior duo of Amari Carter and Teniya Page led the way with 18 and 17 points, respectively, while the two also dished seven assists apiece.

Sophomore Alisia Smith followed with 14 points, while classmate Kamaria McDaniel added 13 to round out the Lady Lions in double figures. Freshman Lauren Ebo nearly missed a double-double with nine points and a team-best 12 rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The teams traded baskets in the opening five minutes of the game as American took an early 10-8 lead. A McDaniel trey at the 3:25 mark kicked off a 10-4 quarter-closing run for the Lady Lions. McDaniel and Page contributed five points apiece to the streak that gave Penn State an 18-14 edge after the first term.
• A conventional three-point play from McDaniel opened the second quarter to stretch PSU’s run to 13-4, but American answered with a 10-0 streak over the next 3:30 to jump in front 24-21 with 5:55 to play in the first half.
• A layup from Ebo snapped the Eagles’ run and served as the front end of a 7-2 Penn State streak that knotted the score at 28-28 with 2:52 on the clock.
• A three-pointer from freshman Karisma Ortiz ended the quarter and sent the teams into halftime tied at 33-33.
• American scored the first basket of the second half, but seven points from Carter helped fuel a 17-4 Penn State run over the next 4:48. The Lady Lions were 7-for-11 from the field during the stretch that put PSU in front 50-39 with four minutes to play in the third quarter.
• Penn State scored seven-straight points during a 2:11 stint late in the term to carry a 59-47 lead into the final quarter.
• Layups from Smith and Ebo opened the fourth quarter and gave Penn State its largest lead yet at 63-47 with 7:59 to play.
• American wouldn’t get closer than 10 the rest of the way as the Lady Lions continued to get contributions from up and down the lineup. Penn State spent the last 2:21 of the game on a 10-0 run to secure the 80-59 win.

KEY NOTES

• Penn State’s five turnovers set a new Bryce Jordan Center record for fewest Penn State turnovers in a game. The previous record with six, which was done three times in 2017.
• The Lady Lions improve to 6-3 at home this season and are now 33-9 at the Bryce Jordan Center since the start of the 2016-17 season.
• Penn State tied a season-high 80 points. The Lady Lions have scored 80 points three times this season (Jacksonville – Dec. 2, St. Bonaventure – Dec. 9).
• PSU’s 22 assists mark the first time the Lady Lions have recorded more than 20 assists since Nov. 12, 2017 when Penn State dished 21 helpers against Drexel.
• Penn State improves to 5-1 all-time against American.
• Penn State is now 3-0 when scoring at least 80 points this season.
• Penn State is 2-0 when allowing 59 points or less.
• Penn State won its first game by 20-plus points since Feb. 28, 2018 – Illinois (83-57).
• With her 17 points, Page has now totaled 1,807 career points. She becomes to eighth Lady Lion to reach the 1,800-point milestone.

STAT STANDOUTS

• Penn State shot 48.8 percent (20-for-41) from the field in the second half, compared to its 37.5 percentage (12-for-32) in the first half.
• The Lady Lions held a 14-2 edge in fast-break points and 15-9 advantage in second-chance points.
• Penn State out-rebounded the Eagles 42-35.
• Carter’s seven assists were a season high, while Page’s seven helpers tied her season best.
• Smith went 7-for-8 from the floor en route to her 14 points.
• Ebo tied a career-high 12 rebounds (seven offensive, five defensive).

COACH’S TAKE

Head Coach Coquese Washington

• “We had a lot of contributions from a number of individuals. In the second half we came out and were able to really step up our defensive effort and I thought that was really the key to the game. We were able to play with the lead and I’m really happy with the way we played the second half.”
• “We’ve done some things really well in non-conference play, we’ve had some challenges, we’ve had some injuries and some adversity we’ve had to overcome. I like where we are right now and we’re starting to round into form. Our chemistry and confidence in each other is developing and I’m excited about heading into Big Ten play.”
• “Going into Big Ten play, teams are familiar with each other and the conference is really competitive from top to bottom. Every game is tough. I think our non-conference schedule has prepared us for that because we’ve been in a lot of tough games. We know that Big Ten play is going to be challenge. We have a little bit of time to fine tune some things on both the offensive and defensive ends.”

UP NEXT

• The Lady Lions will have a 12-day break for the holidays before opening Big Ten play against #6/6 Maryland on Dec. 28.
• Tipoff from the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 7 p.m.