Nov. 30, 2016
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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The Penn State women's basketball program started each half with an extended scoring run and fought off multiple spurts from Boston College to win its ACC/Big Ten Challenge contest, 60-56, on Wednesday (Nov. 30) night at Conte Forum.
The Eagles (2-5) used a 16-0 surge to grab control of the game in the first half, pushing their lead to 22-13 with 9:45 to play in the second quarter, but the third quarter saw an 11-0 spurt for the Lady Lions (5-2), taking the lead on a Teniya Page (Chicago, Ill.) 3-pointer with 8:02 to play in the third frame.
Penn State held the lead until the 1:05 mark in the fourth quarter when Mariella Fasoula connected on a jumper and was fouled -- hitting the free throw -- to give Boston College a two-point edge, 54-52. A pair of Page free throws knotted the game at 54 apiece with 40-seconds remaining.
After a Fasoula layup gave BC the 56-54 edge with 29 ticks left. On the next possession, Page drove the lane, scored and was fouled -- connecting on the free throw -- to give Penn State the lead for good, 57-56. Three more free throws pushed the Penn State lead to its final margin, 60-56.
Penn State is now 3-7 overall in the event, earning its first road win in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Boston College falls to 4-6 in the first 10 events.
In the game, Page posted her 31st career double-figure scoring game with 24 points and scored her 600th career point in the process. It was the ninth 20-point game of her young career, as she added two rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Sierra Moore (Hanover, Pa.) was the only other Lady Lion in double figures, scoring 10 points off the bench. Kaliyah Mitchell (Stone Mountain, Ga.) added 10 rebounds, as the Lady Lions out-rebounded BC, 40-32, in the game.
Turning Point
:22 remaining in the fourth quarter
After Mariella Fasoula gave Boston College the lead, 56-54, with 40 seconds remaining, Teniya Page drove the lane and was fouled -- connecting on the free throw -- to give Penn State the lead for good.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- G Teniya Page -- Registered her 31st career double-digit scoring game with 24 points, pushing her career scoring total to 608 points. Added two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
- F Kaliyah Mitchell -- Pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with eight points. Hit the final two free throws of the game to seal the victory.
- G Lindsey Spann -- Handed out four assists and scored seven points. Added three rebounds.
- C Jaylen Williams -- Pulled down a career-high eight rebounds in a homecoming game.
- Points off Turnovers -- Penn State turned 20 BC turnovers into 22 points.
- Rebounding -- Even with the size disadvantage, Penn State out-rebounded its opponent for the sixth time in 2016-17. The Lady Lions owned a 40-32 edge on the boards, which led to a 13-7 edge in second change points.
Boston College
- C Mariella Fasoula -- Registered a game-high 29 points, to go along with nine rebounds.
- G Kelly Hughes -- Totaled 12 points and eight rebounds.
By Quarter
First Quarter
Penn State raced out to an early 7-0 lead thank to a pair of 3-pointers and a Teniya Page free throw, but Boston College stormed back, closing the frame on a 19-6 run to take the lead after 10 minutes. The Lady Lions forced four early turnovers and turned those into eight points, but the Eagles put the pressure on in the paint, scoring 12 points from close range.
Boston College 19, Penn State 13
Second Quarter
The second quarter was almost a full 180-degree turn from the first, as Boston College had the early surge before Penn State closed the half strong. After the Eagles pushed their lead to nine points, 27-18, with 5:12 to play in the first half, the Lady Lions closed on a 12-4 run to make it a one-point game heading to the locker room.
Boston College 31, Penn State 30
Third Quarter
Penn State held Boston College without a field goal for over six minutes in the third quarter and tallied 11 straight points, taking the lead on a Page 3-pointer with 8:08 left. Page had five points in the half, while Moore added four points. Overall in the third quarter, Penn State held a 15-8 edge in the scoring column and forced five more BC turnovers.
Penn State 45, Boston College 39
Fourth Quarter
Boston College wouldn't go quietly, but Page willed her team to a victory down the stretch. The Eagles held a 17-15 edge in the final quarter, but Page's driving layup that included an and-one effort gave Penn State the lead for good with under 30 seconds left in the game. There were three ties and two lead changes in the final stanza.
Penn State 60, Boston College 56
Up Next
Penn State hosts Marshall on Saturday, Dec. 3 inside the Bryce Jordan Center. The Lady Lions and Thundering Herd will tip at 1 p.m. and the game can be head live on the Penn State Radio Network.