Lady Lions Post Pink Day Win Over Wisconsin, 70-61

Freshman Tyra Grant had a game-high 28 points to lead the Lady Lions to a 71-60 win over Wisconsin on THINK PINK Day at the Bryce Jordan Center. More than 8,800 fans attended the game dedicated to breast cancer awareness.

UNVERSITY PARK, PA.; February 4, 2007 -- Pink was the color of the day at the Bryce Jordan Center Sunday, but it was the Lady Lions (12-12, 5-6) who left the Wisconsin Badgers (16-7, 5-5) blue after a 70-61 victory in front of 8,808 fans on THINK PINK Day presented by the Barash Group. Total funds raised from THINK PINK Day for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and Penn State Breast Cancer Awareness Club will be announced at the Minnesota game on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.

Freshman guard Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) netted a game-high 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Junior guard Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) also reached double figures with 16 points and grabbed six rebounds, while sophomore guard Brianne O'Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added 16 points, six rebounds and four assists.

After an emotional halftime ceremony honoring breast cancer survivors, it took the Lady Lions a bit of time to get on the scoreboard in the second frame until Grant connected on a three-pointer from the corner with 17:26 left on the clock. Grant continued to be the top offensive threat for the Lady Lions in the opening part of the second period as she scored PSU's first 10 points of the frame, including a three-pointer at the 15:07 mark that gave the Lady Lions a 41-32 lead and brought the Bryce Jordan Center crowd to their feet.

Following two free throws by Grant, Wisconsin went on a 9-2 run to slice the Penn State lead to two points at 45-43 with 11:56 left in the contest. Senior post Amanda Brown (Kennett Square, Pa.) blocked a Jolene Anderson shot and ran the floor to set up an O¡¯Rourke lay-up, which coupled with a lay-up by Grant less than a minute later, would make the Lady Lion lead five points (49-44) with just over 10 minutes on the clock. The Badgers were relentless and moved within a point (52-51) with 5:51 remaining on an Anderson field goal, but the Lady Lions went on a 6-2 run, capped by a Brown lay-up at the 4:27 mark to give the Lady Lions a solid seven-point lead (58-51). The Badgers would trail by at least five points the rest of the way and the Lady Lions sealed the victory with free throws, including eight freebies by O'Rourke.

Despite a bit of a cold start from the field, the Lady Lions forged out to an early 8-4 lead with 15:34 remaining as four different players scored. The Badgers would just a minute later after two free throws by Janese Banks and a lay-up by Mariah Dunham. However, the Lady Lions would immediately go on an 8-0 run, led by five-straight points by Gissendanner, to take a 16-8 lead with 12:06 left in the frame. After a lay-up by Banks, Penn State would continue to keep the pressure on with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to take a commanding 27-12 lead with 7:06 on the clock. The Lady Lions would score just six more points in the final seven minutes of the half and allowed Wisconsin to cut the lead to 33-29 heading into the locker room. Gissendanner led the way for the Lady Lions with 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting and six rebounds, while Grant added 10 tallies, including a pair of crowd-pleasing three-pointers.

After their second bye date of the season, the Lady Lions will travel to Northwestern for a date with the Wildcats Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. (Central). Penn State returns home on Thursday, Feb. 15 to face Minnesota at the BJC.

Single-game tickets for the Lady Lions may be purchased by visiting the ticket section of GoPSUsports.com or by calling the ticket office at 814-865-5555. Women's single game tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for students and youth (under 18). Mini ticket plans are also available.