BLOG: Lady Lions Comeback Falls Just Short at South Dakota StateBLOG: Lady Lions Comeback Falls Just Short at South Dakota State

BLOG: Lady Lions Comeback Falls Just Short at South Dakota State

Dec. 12, 2013

By Tyler Feldman, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Temperatures were below zero last night in Brookings, S.D., but if you were inside the appropriately named Frost Arena, you would have thought there was a heat wave.

Both the Lady Lions and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits were lighting a fire all over the hardwood yesterday evening, combining to score a total of 162 points.

Despite being unable to complete the comeback and eventually losing, 83-79, in a difficult road test, the Blue and White displayed tenacity by clawing back from a 20-point first half deficit.

"What this really goes to show us is we need to be more determined from the opening tip," said Penn State assistant coach Kia Damon.

The Jackrabbits seemed to always have an answer for every Lady Lions made basket in the first half, especially from beyond the arc. The Jackrabbits shot an astounding 50 percent from downtown in the first half (8-of-16), to go into the locker room at the half leading, 55-35.

There is no denying Penn State dug itself quite a hole in the first half, but when the buzzer sounded and the second half commenced it seemed as if a spark had been ignited within the Lady Lions.

It was the play of some experienced veterans that energized Penn State in the second half. Senior guard Dara Taylor scored 11 of her career-high 19 points in the second frame to jumpstart the Lady Lions.

Taylor was not the only Lady Lion to spark the squad. Forward Ariel Edwards tied her career-high with 24 points, including 16 second half points thanks to 7-of-8 shooting.

"They [Taylor and Edwards] were the catalysts who were getting us going in transition," said Damon. "We were able to use our speed and athleticism to get some easy baskets; they led the charge in the second half."

Senior Maggie Lucas naturally contributed on the offensive side of the ball by tallying 20 points, 12 of which were netted in the second half. Lucas's offensive efforts moved her up to 15th place on the Big Ten all-time career scoring list.

The second half play of the Lady Lions is definitely the type of effort that Coquese Washington and her coaching staff are looking for out of their team as conference play approaches.

"We showed we are aggressive and determined to move the ball in order to get good shot attempts," said Damon. "When we do those things, we can be successful."

Considering the fact that since the 2011-12 season the Jackrabbits are now 29-4 in Frost Arena, escaping with just a four point loss is to some extent permissible, but the Lady Lions are determined to learn from their play in the first half to continue to grow into a stronger team.

"The number one takeaway is we held South Dakota State to just 28 points in the second half, but we gave up 55 points in the first half, and we had the same defensive philosophy in both halves," said Damon. "We are capable of making people have very long nights offensively, but we must start the game with that kind of mindset."