Jan. 3, 2018
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. --UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- With the game on the line, tied at 74-74, sophomore Siyeh Frazier (Detroit, Mich.) laid in a shot under the basket with 15 seconds left to give the Penn State women's basketball team the lead and eventually a 77-74 victory over Indiana in a Big Ten Conference contest on Wednesday (Jan. 3) evening at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Penn State (10-6, 1-2 B1G) shot an impressive 55 percent in the first half of action against Indiana (7-9, 0-3 B1G), marking just the second time in the 2017-18 season in which it shot better than 55% in a half. The Lady Lions ended the game shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, making 28-of-61 shots.
The Blue and White used a team effort on the floor as every Lady Lion who saw action scored at least one point on the night with five reaching double digits. It is the third time this season that Penn State put five in double-figures, also accomplishing the feat vs. Manhattan (12/3/17) and at Marshall (11/15/17).
Sophomore Amari Carter (Washington, D.C.) led the Lady Lions with a career-best 26 points, surpassing her previous best of 24 points against Louisiana Tech earlier this season on Nov. 24, 2017. The Washington, D.C. native continued to move up in Lady Lion laurels as she dished out six assist against the Hoosiers to bring her career total to 197 and move in No. 33 all-time. She passed Julia Trogele (192; 2007-11) and Katina Mack (192; 1991-96) in the contest.
Also reaching double figures for Penn State was sophomore Jaida Travascio-Green (Lisle, Ill.) who netted 11 points. Finally, Frazier, Teniya Page (Chicago, Ill.) and Alisia Smith (Lansing, Mich.) scored 10 points apiece for Penn State in the victory.
The Lady Lions out-rebounded the Hoosiers 34-33 with De'Janae Boykin (Springdale, Md.) and Smith grabbing seven boards each, while Carter grabbed five for the Blue and White. Penn State forced 18 Hoosier missteps, committing just 12 turnovers of its own, collecting nine steals on the afternoon.
Tyra Buss led all scorers with 27 points for Indiana, including 10 free throws, while Amanda Cahill recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds on the night for the Hoosiers.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- G Amari Carter -- Netted a career-best 26 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out six assists.
- G Siyeh Frazier -- Scored four of her eight points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead basket with 15 seconds remaining. Stole the in-bounds pass on what would have been Indiana's final possession with 3.8 seconds left.
- F Alisia Smith -- Notched double-digit scoring with 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds
- G Jaida Travascio-Green -- Reached double figures with 11 points, nine coming in the second half.
- G Teniya Page -- Logged 10 points, four assists, one steal and one rebound.
- Shooting from the Floor -- Penn State shot an impressive 45.9 percent from the floor, knocking down 28 shots.
Indiana
- G Tyra Buss -- Led all scorers with 27 points. Added three steals and three assists.
- F Amanda Cahill -- Recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
- Fourth Quarter Spurt -- The Hoosiers used a 21-6 run over a six minute span to knot the game at 74-74 with 22 seconds remaining.
First Quarter
The Lady Lions opened scoring in the first quarter with a free throw before Carter knocked down two 3-pointers to get Penn State out to a 9-6 lead over the Hoosiers in the first three minutes. Penn State built its lead to 13-6 before Indiana called a timeout with 6:20 remaining in the first quarter. The Hoosiers worked their way to within two, but the Blue and White used a steal and a quick layup to end the quarter with the four-point led, 26-22. The 26 points is tied for the most first-quarter tallies for the Lady Lions, equaling their output in the opening frame vs. Manhattan on Dec. 3, 2017
at Penn State 26, Indiana 22
Second Quarter
The two squads continued to push the offensive pace as Penn State maintained a three-point lead heading into the second quarter media timeout. The Lady Lions made 13 of their first 23 shots to a 56.5 shooting percentage while Carter led all scorers with 17 points in the first 16 minutes of action. Penn State's defense forced Indiana into a 3:54 field goal drought and carried a 42-36 lead, following a Page last-second jumper, into the locker room.
at Penn State 42, Indiana 36
Third Quarter
Penn State and Indiana exchanged baskets for the entire third quarter with the Lady Lions maintaining a narrow 49-47 lead with 4:32 left to play. The Blue and White used a 10-0 run to close out the quarter and carry a double-digit lead into the final 10 minutes of play.
at Penn State 60, Indiana 50
Fourth Quarter
Neither team let up as the pace quickened over the final 10 minutes of play, as Penn State was able to push its lead to 15 points, 68-53, with 6:23 to play. However, the Hoosier would not go quietly, bullying Penn State on a 21-6 run over a six minute span to knot the game at 74-74 on a pair of Buss free throws. Following the free throws, Penn State called its final timeout to draw up a play. Frazier caught a pass under the basket and laid it gently into the hoop to put Penn State up by two with 22 seconds remaining. The Lady Lions picked up the stop on the opposite end of the court before Page was fouled and knocked down 1-of-2 throw to make it a three-point game with 3.8 ticks left. Frazier then sealed the victory with a steal on the ensuing Indiana inbounds pass.
at Penn State 76, Indiana 74
Up Next
Penn State travels to Piscataway, New Jersey for a match up with Big Ten Conference foe Rutgers. The Lady Lions and Scarlet Knights (15-2, 3-0 B1G) will be featured on the Big Ten Network, as well as over the airwaves of the Penn State Radio Network, with tipoff slated for 4:30 p.m. inside the Rutgers Athletic Center.