Feb. 24, 2011
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions (21-8, 10-5) held Purdue (19-10, 9-7) without a field goal for the final six minutes of the game and had six opportunities to take the lead or tie the game in the final 3:48, but were unsuccessful as the Lady Lions dropped a 51-49 game to the Boilermakers at the Bryce Jordan Center. With Penn State trailing by two points, sophomore guard Alex Bentley's (Indianapolis, Ind.) jumper fell short as time expired to give the Boilermakers the win.
Sophomore forward Mia Nickson (Ashburn, Va.) earned her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes of action. Freshman guard Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) also reached double figures for Penn State with 10 points to go along with four rebounds, a career-best two blocks and two steals. Senior guard/forward Julia Trogele (Devon, Pa.) had a solid night with nine points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, while sophomore center Nikki Greene (Diboll, Texas) added eight tallies and two blocks.
The Boilermakers took the early 8-2 lead in the first two minutes of the game, but Penn State closed within a pair (8-6) after back-to-back scores by Alex Bentley (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Nickson. However, Purdue would score the game's next eight points to extend the lead to double figures at 16-6 with 13 minutes remaining.
On the ensuing Penn State possession, Nickson converted on a three-point play, but the Boilers responded with back-to-back scores to stretch the lead back to 20-9 with 11 minutes left. Following another score by Nickson, Purdue went on a 13-2 run to take a 20-point lead (33-13) with 2:48 remaining. The Lady Lions ratcheted up the defensive pressure and ended the half with an 8-0 run that features scores by four different players to send the teams into the break with Purdue leading 33-21.
Penn State struggled from the field in the opening half, shooting just 26.5% (9-34), while the Boilermakers made 50% (12-24) of their shots. Nickson led the Lady Lions with nine points and seven rebounds, while Trogele added four points and two rebounds.
The Boilers scored the first four points out of the half, all by Brittany Rayburn to take a 37-21 lead just over two minutes into the half. Greene kicked off 15-0 with a baby hook shot. Lucas accounted for six points, Nickson added three tallies and Renee Womack (Lansdale, Pa.) and Bentley also scored for the Lions to bring the Bryce Jordan Center crowd to their feet. However, the Boilermakers did their best to silent the crowd with an 11-2 run to take a 48-38 lead with 10:32 to play.
The Lady Lions would not go quietly as Greene kicked off an 11-2 Penn State run with a layup 9:14 remaining. Trogele added a three-point play to cut the deficit to five points (48-42) before Alex Guyton scored on a layup with 6:11 on the clock, which would be Purdue's last field goal of the game. Greene drained a 15-footer on the ensuing possession before Trogele nailed a pair of free throws with 4:23 left to make it a one possession game. After a missed jumper by Rayburn, Lucas took the rebound and converted on a jumper to cut the deficit to one point at 50-49 with 3:48 on the clock.
However, Penn State would not be able to convert on any of their six opportunities to take the lead or tie the game in the final 3:48. Rayburn would only make one of her three free throw attempts in the final 19 seconds to give Penn State one last opportunity, but Bentley's jumper fell short as time expired.
GAME NOTES: With the loss, the Lady Lions are now 14-25 all-time against the Boilermakers and have lose 11 straight to the Boilers ... Sophomore Mia Nickson scored 12 points on the night, surpassing the 300-point mark as a Lady Lion with 309 ... Nickson posted 12 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season and also of her career ... Freshman Maggie Lucas recorded a career high in blocks with two. Her previous high was one, which she did four times ... Lucas notched her 26th double-digit scoring game of the season ... The 49 points by the Lady Lions ties a season low, which they recorded in a loss vs. Michigan State on 2/10/11.
The Lady Lions close out the regular season the Bryce Jordan Center against Northwestern of Sunday, Feb. 27 at noon for the Fifth Annual WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State. $3 from every single-game ticket to the Pink Zone game will go to the Pink Zone fundraising efforts. 2010-11 Lady Lion Basketball Single-game tickets are available by calling 814-863-1000 or 800-NITTANY.
The 2011 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State will take place on Sunday, Feb. 27 at noon as the Lady Lions take on Northwestern in the Bryce Jordan Center. The game can be seen on the Big Ten Network. Last year, the Lady Lions donated more than $80,000 for breast cancer causes. This year's fundraising efforts will benefit the Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital. For more information on the Pink Zone at Penn State, visit the official Pink Zone website at www.gopsusports.com/pinkzone. The WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pinkzoneatpennstate.
The Lady Lions are on Twitter. Follow sports information contact Kris Petersen (@ladylionsid) and the Lady Lions and coaches (@pennstatewbb) to get the inside scoop. The Lady Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstateladylions.