Dec. 10, 2016
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Junior Lindsey Spann (Laurel, Md.) talked in the postgame press conference about needing a team effort on Saturday versus Pittsburgh and that is exactly what the Penn State basketball program got. Eight Lady Lions scored seven-plus points and the team provided a season-best 53 percent shooting from beyond the arc in a 91-62 victory over the Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The Lady Lions (8-2) improve to 5-0 at home to open the 2016-17, marking the 20th time in program history and the fifth time in the Coquese Washington era they began a home slate with five straight wins.
Penn State used a 25-5 run in the second quarter to take a 17-point lead, 44-27, into halftime. The Lady Lion's 25 second quarter points are tied for the most in the second quarter this season as they also netted 25 against Saint Peter's, Nov. 13. The Lady Lions would not relinquish its lead as it went on to earn a 91-62 victory over the Panthers (7-3).
Spann led Penn State for the third time in the 2016-17 season and notched double-digit scoring for the sixth time this year with 20 points. It also marked the third 20-point scoring effort of the season or Spann and 13th of her career.
Freshman Amari Carter (Washington, D.C.) and sophomore Jaylen Williams (Easton, Mass.) each had career days for the Blue and White, as well. Carter netted a career-best 13 points and Williams had a career-high nine points and personal-best-tying eight rebounds. Sophomore Teniya Page (Chicago, Ill.) was the final Lady Lion to notch double-digit scoring with 13 points to record her ninth double-digit contest of the season and 34th of her career.
As a team, Penn State shot 47 percent from the floor which ranks second in the 2016-17 season and is the third-straight game that the Lady Lions have shot 45 percent or better. Furthermore, the Blue and White shot a season-best 53 percent from beyond the arc, going 9-for-17 with three players making two-or-more treys.
Freshman Jaida Travascio-Green (Lisle, Ill.) and Carter each went 3-for-4 from 3-point range, while Spann dropped two treys. Spann's two 3-pointers moved her to a tie for No. 9 all-time in career threes, tying current Pittsburgh Director of Operations and former Penn State Lady Lion Brianna O'Rourke with 120 makes from distance.
On the boards, the Lady Lions pulled down a season-high 47 rebounds, including 19 offensive rebounds.
Pittsburgh was led by Brenna Wise, who netted 15 points, going 7-for-13 from the floor, while Jasmine Whitney scored 14 points for the Panthers. Brandi Harvey-Carr chipped in nine points for Pitt, while the team shot 42.6 percent from the floor.
Turning Point
With 8:56 remaining in the second quarter
The Lady Lions took the lead for good on a Carter layup in the midst of what would be a 25-5 run in the second quarter. The Penn State defense kept Pittsburgh to just eight points in the second quarter, while scoring 17-straight points between the Panther's first and second baskets of the quarter.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- G Lindsey Spann -- Scored 20 points, including three 3-pointers to move into a tie for No. 9 all-time in Penn State 3-point shooting laurels. Added seven rebounds and four steals.
- G Amari Carter -- Netted a career-high 13 points and dished out five assists. Also went 3-for-4 from 3-point range.
- G Teniya Page -- Notched 13 points and handed out a game-best seven assists.
- G Jaida Travascio-Green -- Went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc to score nine points.
- F Jaylen Williams -- Scored a career-high nine points and had a career-best-tying eight rebounds.
- Rebounding -- The Lady Lions pulled down a season-high 47 rebounds with 19 offensive caroms, owning a plus-18 margin on the glass.
- Playing Fast -- Penn State scored 27 fast break points and forced 18 Pittsburgh missteps that turned into 28 points.
Pittsburgh
- F Brenna Wise -- Had a team-best 15 points, going 7-for-13 from the floor and pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.
- G Jasmine Whitney -- Scored 14 points, going 5-for-8 with three 3-pointers.
- C Brandi Harvey-Carr -- Netted nine points.
By Quarter
First Quarter
Penn State notched the 5-0 lead but Pitt responded with a 10-0 run to go up 10-5 with 5:35 remaining in the first quarter. After a media timeout, Penn State knotted the score at 10-10 on an Amari Carter layup. With 19 seconds left in the quarter, Carter connected on a 3-pointer to give the Lady Lions the lead but free throws for the Panthers would tie the game at 19-19 to end the first 10 minutes of action.
Penn State 19, Pittsburgh 19
Second Quarter
Pitt retook the lead with a Alayna Gribble 3-pointer to start the second stanza, but the Lady Lions ticked of 11-straight points over the next 5:04 to take a 30-22 advantage and force the Panthers to use a timeout with 4:47 left in the first half. Penn State pushed its run to 25-5 in the last six minutes of the quarter to take a comfortable 40-27 lead into the locker room at the half. The Lady Lions defense forced a 9:14 combined scoring draught for the Panthers and kept them to just eight points in the second quarter.
Penn State 40, Pittsburgh 27
Third Quarter
The Panthers looked to close the gap in the third quarter, but Penn State maintained its double-digit lead, 54-35, with a give-and-go play and a 3-pointer from Travascio-Green with 5:41 left. Carter matched Travascio-Green's 3-pointer with one of her own to force McConnell-Serio to burn a timeout with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter. Penn State maintained its lead holding a 68-50 edge entering the final 10 minutes.
Penn State 68, Pittsburgh 50
Fourth Quarter
The Lady Lions continued to put pressure on Pittsburgh defensively, causing a three-minute scoring draught and working its lead to 89-60 with 2:08 remaining in the contest. Penn State kept momentum improving to 5-0 at home with a 91-62 win over Pitt.
Penn State 91, Pittsburgh 62
Up Next
Penn State will take a week break due to finals and return to action at the Bryce Jordan Center Sunday, Dec. 18 when it takes on American in a 2 p.m. contest. Fans who cannot make it out to the BJC can catch all the action live on the airwaves of the Penn State Radio Network.
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery