Feb. 3, 2008
Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery | Postgame Podcast
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Lady Lions' (13-9, 4-6) defensive and rebounding struggles continued as Wisconsin (11-10, 4-7) handed Penn State a 77-59 loss at the Bryce Jordan Center Sunday in front of a season-high crowd of 7,036. The win is the first-ever for the Badgers in Happy Valley (1-14). The Lady Lions, who have lost five of their last six games, fall to 14-4 all-time on Super Bowl Sunday, including a 5-2 mark against Wisconsin.
The Badgers outrebounded Penn State by a 43-27 margin, including 15 offensive rebounds. Wisconsin also shot 50% from the field on the game, including a 46.2% from beyond the arc, compared to a 37.7% effort for the Lady Lions.
Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) posted her fourth double-double with a team-best 20 points and 10 rebounds. She also had a blocked shot and two steals in the loss. Sophomore guard Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) added 13 points and four assists, while Brianne O'Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.) chipped in eight points and five assists.
The Badgers scored the first six points of the game, but the Lady Lions roared back 10 consecutive tallies that included four points each by Gissendanner and Grant, as well as a fastbreak lay-up by O'Rourke. However, Wisconsin retook the lead with a 6-0 run before Penn State would move ahead by 14-12 margin on a jumper by Janessa Wolff (Park Rapids, Minn.) with 11:39 remaining in the half.
Jolene Anderson got hot for the Badgers, scoring 14 of the game's next 17 points to single-handedly put Wisconsin ahead by 27-16 margin with 5:38 remaining. The Badgers continued to stretch the lead to 16 points (40-24) with just over two minutes remaining, but the Lady Lions battled back as they scored the final four points of the period to head into the break down by 12 (40-28).
Gissendanner had nine points to go along with four rebounds, while O'Rourke added seven tallied and four assists. Anderson was the game's leading scorer with 18 of Wisconsin's 40 points.
Anderson continued her hot streak as she knocked down a three-pointer to open the second half, but Gissendanner responded immediately with a triple of her own to keep the deficit at 12 points (43-31). After an exchange of baskets, the Badgers went on a 13-0 run, but were helped immensely by the fact that the Lady Lions, who were 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the first half and shoot 77% from the stripe on the season, missed nine consecutive shots from the charity stripe. The run stretched the lead to 56-34 with less than 12 minutes to play.
Grant ended the Badger run with a lay-up and three-pointer in back-to-back trips down the court to slice into the Wisconsin lead (56-39). The squads swapped baskets and the Lady Lions pulled within 14 points (64-50) with six minutes remaining. However, the Badgers stretched the lead back to 20 points with four minutes remaining and the Lady Lions could pull no closer than 16 points en route to the final margin.
The Lady Lions travel to Ann Arbor to face Michigan on Thursday at 7 p.m., before returning to the BJC for a three-game homestand. The homestand kicks off with the Second Annual THINK PINK Day proudly supported by Mimi Barash Coppersmith on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 12 p.m. against Iowa. The Lady Lions will then take on Minnesota on Feb. 14 and Michigan State on Feb. 17.
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: Wisconsin recorded its first ever victory in Happy Valley (1-14 all time) ... Penn State falls to 14-4 all-time on Super Bowl Sunday, including a 5-2 mark versus Wisconsin ... Brianne O'Rourke scored eight points, putting her at the 700-point mark for her career ... Kamela Gissendanner posted her fourth career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds ... Rashida Mark scored four points to surpass the 200-point mark for her career ... Penn State is 10-2 on the season at the Bryce Jordan Center.
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