Feb. 7, 2008
ANN ARBOR, MICH. - The Lady Lions (13-10, 4-7) jumped out to the lead early, but an 18-0 run by Michigan (13-9, 6-6) to end the first half and open the second frame spelled doom for Penn State on its way to a 68-53 loss at Crisler Arena Thursday night. Krista Phillips scored all 16 of her points in the second half and Carly Benson had a game-high 18 points to lead the Wolverines.
Senior guard Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) was 7-for-14 from the field en route to a team-high 16 points. She also added four rebounds and two steals. Sophomore guard Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) added 13 points and three boards, while Brianne O'Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Rashida Mark (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added six tallies apiece.
The Lady Lions jumped out to the early lead, scoring the first seven points of the game on a three-pointer by O'Rourke and jumpers by Gissendanner and Janessa Wolff (Park Rapids, Minn.). The Wolverines scored their first basket of the game on a three-pointer by Benson at the 16:03 mark, but Penn State continued to keep the pressure on as the Lady Lions shot 80% (8-10) in the first nine minutes to establish a 19-13 lead.
Both teams cooled over the next few minutes as Penn State managed only two free throws from Gissendanner and Michigan got a lay-up from Stephanie Skrba to make it a 21-15 game with just under seven minutes to play in the half. The squads exchanged baskets for the next several minutes until the Wolverines went on a 7-0 in the final three minutes of the half to send the teams into the break with the Lady Lions holding a 27-26 lead.
Gissendanner finished the opening frame with a game-high 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and four rebounds, while Grant and Mashea Williams (Erie, Pa.) added four points apiece.
The second half opened the same way that the first half ended with Krista Clement knocking down an NBA-range three-pointer to give Michigan its first least of the game at 29-27 and continue what proved to be an 19-0 Wolverine run. Michigan added to the lead on two lay-ups by Benson, a three-pointer by Janelle Cooper and a lay-up by Phillips to make it an 11-point Michigan lead three and a half minutes into the half.
Gissendanner stopped the Wolverine run with a lay-up at the 15:57 mark with a lay-up and the squads continued to exchange baskets for the next several minutes until a three-pointer by O'Rourke and an old-fashioned three-point play by Grant sliced the Michigan lead to just five points (45-40) with just over 11 minutes remaining. However, Penn State's momentum was short-lived as Michigan went on a 14-3 run to extend its lead to 59-43 with 7:10 on the clock.
Grant's three-pointer at the six-minute mark stopped a four and a half minute field goal drought for the Lady Lions and made it a 59-46 game. Another Grant three brought the Lady Lions within 12 points (61-49) with 3:25 on the clock, but that is as close as Penn State would come down the stretch on the way to a 15-point defeat.
The Lady Lions return to the BJC for a three-game homestand on Sunday with the Second Annual THINK PINK Day proudly supported by Mimi Barash Coppersmith on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 12 p.m. against Iowa. Penn State will donate $1 of every single-game ticket sold for THINK PINK Day to the fundraising efforts. Two-time NFL Pro Bowl selection Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs will be on the concourse signing autographs for a $5 donation from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 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.
FREE- DOWNLOAD THE PENN STATE SPORTS DESKTOP APPLICATION HERE