Jan. 10, 2018
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A slow start for the Penn State women's basketball team was too much to recover from as Minnesota grabbed a 91-71 decision on Wednesday (Jan. 10) at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The Golden Gophers (14-4, 3-2 B1G) outscored the Lady Lions (10-8, 1-4 B1G) built an eight-point lead early, 10-2, just 3:08 into the first quarter and were able to keep the frantic scoring pace, eclipsing 20 points in each quarter of the game. Minnesota shot 58 percent from the field and knocked down 38 field goals, including 10 3-pointers, while Penn State hit on 39 percent of its shots, making 27 field goals, with six of those from 3-point range.
The Lady Lions were able to apply defensive pressure all night, creating 16 Minnesota miscues -- including nine steals -- that led to 25 points.
Junior Teniya Page (Chicago, Ill.) led Penn State with 21 points for her 64th career double-figure scoring game. She was 8-of-15 from the field, hitting 3-of-5 shots from 3-point range, to move her career scoring total over the 1,300-point mark. The junior also added four assists and two rebounds.
With her 21 tallies, Page marked her sixth 20-point game of the season and 26th of her career to move up two spots on the career scoring charts, ending the night at No. 19 all-time. She sits at 1,312 points, passing Helen Darling (1,294; 1997-2000) and Kathy Drysdale (1,295; 1989-92).
Three other Lady Lions reached double-figures in the scoring column with Amari Carter (Washington, D.C.) adding 13 points for her 15th double-digit scoring game of the season and 24th of her career, while De'Janae Boykin (Springdale, Md.) and Siyeh Frazier (Detroit, Mich.) each chipped in 10 points and five rebounds.
Carter grabbed four steals and dished out five assists in the game. It marked the eighth time this season that the redshirt-sophomore collected four-or-more steals in a game and tied her Big Ten personal best, which she has done five times, including three-straight games.
For Minnesota, Carlie Wagner paced all scorers with 23 points, adding seven rebounds and four assists. Destiny Pitts added 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Two other Gophers reached the 10-point mark, as Gadiva Hubbard posted 13 points and Jessie Edwards tallied 10.
Turning Point
With 6:52 left in the first quarter
Jessie Edwards laid in a bucket to cap off a 10-2 Golden Gopher run to open up the game and Penn State would get no closer than three points the rest of the way. The run included a four-point play by Destiny Pitts when she knocked down a 3-pointer and was fouled, making the free throw.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- G Teniya Page -- Paced Penn State with 21 and tallied four assists. Moved up two spots to No. 19 on the Penn State career scoring charts, eclipsing the 1,300-point mark in the game.
- G Amari Carter -- Scored 13 points for her sixth-straight double-figure game. Added four steals, and five assists.
- F De'Janae Boykin -- Scored 10 points while collecting five rebounds.
- G Siyeh Frazier -- Tallied 10 points and five boards.
- Forcing the TO -- Penn State forced 16 Minnesota turnovers and turned them into 25 points.
Minnesota
- G Carlie Wagner -- Led all scorers with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, while also tallying seven rebounds and four assists.
- G Destiny Pitts -- Tallied 16 points and pulled down nine boards.
- G Gadiva Hubbard -- Scored 12 points and had three rebounds and assists.
- Owning the Paint-- Minnesota scored 42 points in the paint.
- Bench Boost -- The Golden Gophers outscored Penn State 28-12 off the bench.
First Quarter
After an 8-0 run by Minnesota to open the game, a Penn State timeout sparked the Lady Lions to make their next five field goals after starting 0-for-6 from the floor to get within three, 15-12, at the 4:39 mark. Both teams were red hot to close out the quarter, combining to make 15-of-20 field goals in the final 7:19. Minnesota was able to knock down four 3-pointers in the quarter to give the Golden Gophers the advantage.
Minnesota 25, at Penn State 19
Second Quarter
Carter opened the second quarter scoring when she anticipated a cross-court pass and took it to the rim for a fast break layup. Minnesota quickly answered with a 7-0 run capped off by a Bryanna Fernstrom layup that forced another Penn State timeout. The Golden Gopher run did not end there as Wagner hit a 3-pointer to extend the run to 10. Page finally extinguished the run with an elbow jumper at 5:47 that sparked a scoring run of her own as she scored the Lady Lions next seven points. Minnesota stayed hot from beyond the arc, adding three more 3-pointers in the quarter. Carter hit a corner jumper at the buzzer to close out the period with Penn State trailing heading into halftime.
Minnesota 48, at Penn State 31
Third Quarter
It was a quick start to the quarter as Page opened up the scoring with a layup, but Minnesota followed with back-to-back 3-pointers by Pitts and Wagner. The break did not slowdown the Golden Gophers as they made their first four field goals in the quarter. Frazier put together a three-point possession, when she was fouled on a put back layup attempt, converted the first free throw and knocked down a jumper after getting her own offensive rebound on the miss. The Lady Lions forced a turnover at the other end and Kamaria McDaniel (Inkster, Mich.) hit the transition 3-pointer as part of an 8-0 Penn State run to make it 60-45 with 4:10 to play. Minnesota answered by making their next three field goals, and a four-minute Lady Lion field goal drought was finally ended when Page knocked down a foul line jumper at the buzzer.
Minnesota 70, at Penn State 49
Fourth Quarter
It was raining threes to start the fourth as Wagner opened up with a triple, followed by back-to-back Lady Lion treys from Page and McDaniel. Page had 10 of her 21 points in the quarter, capping it off with a pull up jumper with 21 seconds left. Penn State held the 22-21 edge in the final stanza to account for the final margin.
Minnesota 91, at Penn State 71
Up Next
Penn State travels to Madison, Wisconsin for a 2 p.m. matchup with the Badgers on Sunday, Jan. 14. The game will be carried on the Big Ten Network, as well as over the airwaves of the Penn State Radio Network.