Jan. 13, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. - The Lady Lions (12-5, 3-2) held Minnesota (13-5, 4-2) big gun Emily Fox down for most of the game, but Penn State was saddled with turnovers (18) and poor rebounding (38-25 Minnesota advantage) in a 67-50 loss at Williams Arena on Sunday afternoon. All six of the Lady Lions' losses in the series have come in Minneapolis.
Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) finished with a team-high 16 points, while Mashea Williams (Erie, Pa.) also reached double figures with 12 tallies to go along with two assists and three steals. In her first game in the return to her home state, freshman Janessa Wolff (Park Rapids, Minn.) accounted for nine points, eight rebounds and a blocked shot.
The squads were evenly matched in the early-going with Penn State drawing first blood on a lay-up by Williams. The Lady Lions posted the largest lead of the game to that point as a three-pointer by Brianne O'Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.) gave PSU a four-point lead at 13-9 with 12 minutes left in the half. However, back-to-back baskets by Ashley Ellis-Milan brought the Golden Gophers back even at 13-13 with 12:25 on the clock.
The Lady Lions got three consecutive baskets, sandwiched by a free throw, to pull out to a 21-16 lead with 9:45 to go in the half. The tide had an opportunity to turn in Minnesota's favor as O'Rourke was assessed a personal foul and a technical foul at the 10:02 mark, which gave her three fouls for the game.
With O'Rourke out of the game, the Lady Lions held their own until Minnesota reeled off seven-straight points to close out the half and establish a 35-28 lead at the break. Penn State was held to just one field goal and two free throws in the final 6:50 of the first frame. Ellis-Milan was on fire in the opening frame with a game-best 16 points in the first half.
After Minnesota extended their lead to eight points (36-28) on a Leslie Knight free throw to open the second half, the Lady Lions sliced the lead back to three tallies at 36-33 thanks to a three pointer by Grant and a nifty lay-up by Wolff. However, the Golden Gophers put together an 8-0 run to open up a 44-33 lead with 15:31 left in the game, forcing head coach Coquese Washington to call a timeout.
The Golden Gophers held their distance as the Lady Lions were plagued by turnovers in the first eight minutes of the second half with six turnovers, just one off of their total of seven in the entire first half. Every time the Lady Lions pulled closer to Minnesota, the Golden Gophers would make a run to keep the lead in double figures.
Minnesota was able to extend the lead to a game-high 16 points at 60-44 just over five minutes left in the game. Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) knocked down a three-pointer to bring the Lady Lions within 60-47 with 4:49 on the clock, but Penn State went cold from the field for the remainder of the game as the Lady Lions only scored three more points en route to the 67-50 loss.
The Lady Lions are back in the BJC for two key Big Ten contests against Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m., and Michigan on Sunday, Jan. 20. The game against the Boilermakers can be seen on the Big Ten Network and the Wolverines contest will air on WPSU. Penn State is back on the road at Wisconsin on Thursday, Jan. 24.
Fans can purchase single-game tickets by visiting the Bryce Jordan Center box office, calling 814-865-5555 or 800-863-3336 or by clicking on the ticket link on www.GoPSUsports.com. The second annual THINK PINK Day is slated for Sunday, Feb. 10 versus Iowa at noon. For more information on THINK PINK Day, visit Penn State's official THINK PINK website at www.gopsusports.com/thinkpink.
GAME NOTES: Janessa Wolff surpassed the 100-point mark for her young career in front of her family and friends with a basket eight minutes into the game...Tyra Grant reached the 700-point plateau for her career with 16 tallies today.