Nov. 25, 2017
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Even with 13 makes from 3-point range and the rebounding edge, the Penn State women's basketball team was unable to shake Kansas State in a 70-65 setback in its final game at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout on Saturday (Nov. 25).
South Point Arena provided a great backdrop on Penn State's second night in the facility, as the Lady Lions (5-2) connected on 13-of-30 shots from 3-point range. The total marks the most since Penn State hit 14 3-pointers vs. North Carolina on Nov. 30, 2011 inside the Bryce Jordan Center. It is also the second time this season that Penn State reached double-digits in 3-point makes, hitting 12 at Marshall on Nov. 15.
While Kansas State scored 30 of its 70 points in the paint and hit 18-of-22 free throws, Penn State owned a 42-29 rebounding edge. The Lady Lions outscored the Wildcats 16-9 in second chance points, but could register only eight points in the paint. The Lady Lion bench continued to produce on Saturday, logging a 17-8 edge in points off the pine.
Leading a balanced scoring attack was sophomore Jaida Travascio-Green (Lisle, Ill.) with 15 points -- hitting five 3-pointers. She added a career-high four assists in the game, as well. Redshirt-sophomore Amari Carter (Washington, D.C.) chipped in 14 points and a game-high-tying six assists. She didn't turn the ball over in 38 minutes and added two rebounds and two steals.
Junior Teniya Page reached double-figures for the first time this season -- returning from injury on Friday (Nov. 24) evening vs. Louisiana Tech -- with 10 points to mark her 55th career double-digit scoring effort.
The post duo of De'Janae Boykin (Springdale, Md.) and Jaylen Williams (Easton, Mass.) combined for 23 rebounds and 14 points. Boykin hauled in a game-high 14 boards -- her second-straight double-digit rebound effort -- and scored five points. Williams missed a double-double by one point and one rebound, securing nine boards and scoring nine points.
Kansas State put three players in double-figures, as Kayla Goth and Peyton Williams tied for game high with 19 points each. Kaylee Page added 13 points in the Wildcats victory.
Turning Point
With 6:47 to go in the second quarter
Though Penn State fought back in the second half, Peyton Williams' and-one gave Kansas State a 10-point lead early in the second quarter. It was the only double-digit lead of the game and built a Wildcat advantage that the Lady Lions were unable to erase.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- G Jaida Travascio-Green -- Scored a team-best 15 points, hitting all five field goals from 3-point range. Added four rebounds, a career-high four assists, one block and one steal.
- G Amari Carter -- Tallied 14 points for her fifth-straight game in double-figures. Added a team-best six assists and didn't commit a turnover in 38 minutes. Added two rebounds and two steals.
- G Teniya Page -- Reached double-figures in her second game back from injury with 10 points. Added one rebound and one assist.
- F De'Janae Boykin -- Posted back-to-back double-digit rebound games with a game-high 14 boards. Chipped in five points, one assist and one blocked shot.
- Cleaning Glass -- Out-rebounded Kansas State by a 42-39 margin, including 15 of the offensive variety, scoring 16 second chance points.
- Hitting From Three -- Penn State hit 13 3-pointers in the game, its most since connecting on 14 triples vs. North Carolina on Nov. 30, 2011.
Kansas State
- F Peyton Williams -- Tied for game high with 19 tallies
- G Kayla Goth -- Handed out six assists to go along with a game-high-tying 19 points.
- F Kaylee Page -- Scored 13 points to go along with seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
- Charity Stripe Cash-In -- Kansas State was plus-10 points from the free throw line, hitting 18-of-22 shots from the charity stripe.
First Quarter
Carter opened the scoring with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and hit another shot from long range at the 5:24 mark to make it 8-4 in favor of the Blue and White. Kansas State scored the next two baskets to knot the score at eight, but the Lady Lions used buckets from Sam Breen (Gibsonia, Pa.) and Siyeh Frazier (Detroit, Mich.), sandwiched between a Rachel Ranke 3-pointer, to take a one-point lead into the first break.
Penn State 12, Kansas State 11
Second Quarter
Kansas State dominated the post, owning a 12-0 edge in points in the paint, and out-scored Penn State 26-19 over the second 10 minutes to grab the lead at halftime. After another William's and-one pushed Kansas State's lead to two points, Penn State's Williams hit a pair of free throws on the other end to knot the score for the second time in the game, 14-14. However, Kansas State used a 10-0 spurt to push its lead to double-figures at 24-14. That would be the only double-digit lead of the game, as Penn State quickly trimmed it to four points on back-to-back 3-pointers from Frazier and Kamaria McDaniel (Inkster, Mich.). The two squads traded baskets the remainder of the high-scoring second quarter, and the Wildcats took a seven point edge into the locker room.
Kansas State 37, Penn State 30
Third Quarter
The third quarter was much the same as the close of the second, with Penn State and Kansas State trading baskets throughout. The Lady Lions hit four 3-pointers in the frame to keep the game close, including three coming from Travascio-Green. Page hit a triple to open the scoring for Penn State in the quarter, as well. Balanced scoring from Kansas State helped the Wildcats hold a 17-16 edge in the quarter, with four players scoring at least three points in the frame, led by five from Goth.
Kansas State 54, Penn State 46
Fourth Quarter
Penn State used a scoring surge midway through the fourth quarter to pull the game within one possession, but Kansas State was able to hold off the charge to earn the five-point victory. A quick start from Penn State took the eight-point KSU lead and trimmed it to just two, 54-52, with 7:02 to play. A jumper from Page, 1-of-2 free throws from Williams and a 3-pointer by Carter made it a one-possession game. The Kansas State lead would not reach more than six points over the next six minutes, but Penn State couldn't find a way to grab a lead or knot the score. Carter scored eight of her 14 points in the fourth quarter and Williams added three tallies in the frame.
Kansas State 70, Penn State 65
Up Next
Penn State returns home to host Wake Forest in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Thursday, Nov. 30. Tipoff inside the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-NITTANY or visiting the Bryce Jordan Center box office. Fans who cannot make it to the game can catch all the action live on the airwaves of the Penn State Radio Network with Jerry Fisher and Joe Putnam.