Feb. 25, 2018
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State women's basketball team could not overcome an early deficit against Ohio State on Sunday (Feb. 25) in an 89-64 setback inside the Bryce Jordan Center in the 12th annual Play4Kay benefitting Pink Zone.
The Lady Lions (15-14, 6-10 B1G) hit 25 shots from the field, including six from 3-point range, but the Buckeyes (23-6, 12-3 B1G) netted 34 field goals, 10 of the 3-point variety. Penn State shot 37.9 percent from the field, as Ohio State netted a 48.6 percent clip.
The Lady Lions again held the advantage in turnovers, forcing Buckeyes into 15 missteps while the committing just 13. However, Ohio State held the edge in rebounds (48-29), assists (20-15), blocked shots (7-3) and steals (8-7).
Penn State falls to 7-5 all-time in Play4Kay benefitting Pink Zone games, as 552 survivors totaling 3,451 years, seven months and 20 days attended this season's event.
For the 14th-straight game, junior Teniya Page (Chicago, Ill.) scored in double-figures with a team-best 19 points. The double-digit effort was the 21st of the season and 75th of her career with 10-plus points. She added three assists and one rebound.
Page moved her career scoring total to 1,525 points, moving her into No. 13 on the career scoring charts. In the game, she passed Vicki Link (1,514; 1984-87).
Sophomore Jaida Travascio-Green (Lisle, Ill.) joined Page in double-figures with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including four made 3-pointers. With her fourth 3-pointer of the game, Travascio-Green ticked up one spot to No. 8 on the single-season list, passing Chrissy Falcone (70; 1999-2000) and Lisa Shepherd (70; 1999-2000) with her 71st make of the year.
With her third steal of the game, Amari Carter (Washington, D.C.) moved her season total to 78, passing Tina Nicholson (76; 1993-94 & 77; 1995-96), Nancy Kuhl (77;1977-78) and Dara Taylor (77; 2012-13). Carter had the team high four assists, as well, passing Kelly Mazzante (237; 2001-04) and Mashea Williams (239; 2006-09) on the career charts to move into No. 21 all-time with 240 helpers.
Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 22 points, adding six assists and five rebounds for Ohio State. A pair of double-doubles for the Buckeyes came in the form of a 21-point, 14-rebound effort from Stephanie Mavunga and a 17-point, 10-board showing by Linnae Harper, who also added five assists.
Turning Point
At 2:23 left in the first quarter
A Kelsey Mitchell 3-pointer sparked an 8-0 run that gave Ohio State a double-digit lead, 23-10, late in the opening frame. Penn State would get no closer than eight points the remainder of the game and trailed by double-figures 27:21 of the contest.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- G Teniya Page -- Scored 19 points with three assists.
- G Amari Carter -- Scored eight points with four assists and three steals.
- G Jaida Travascio-Green -- Scored 17 points with one assist and one block.
Ohio State
- F Stephanie Mavunga -- Scored 21 points with 14 rebounds. Added four blocked shots.
- G Kelsey Mitchell -- Scored 22 points with five rebounds and six assists.
- G Linnae Harper -- Scored 17 points with 10 rebounds and five assists.
First Quarter
The first quarter started off with a flurry of baskets, as Ohio State jumped out to a 7-6 lead with 6:41 remaining. Travascio-Green gave Penn State a 6-5 lead with a 3-pointer, but the Buckeyes closed the quarter on an 18-6 run, pushing their lead to 23-12 after 10 minutes of action.
at Penn State 12, Ohio State 23
Second Quarter
Travascio-Green and Kamaria McDaniel (Inkster, Mich.) each hit 3-pointers to start the second quarter off and cut the Ohio State lead to single digits, but the Buckeyes went on an 8-0 run. That spurt pushed the lead for OSU to 16 points, but a quick 5-0 run by the Lady Lions trimmed that to 11 on a pair of Page free throws and a Travascio-Green 3-pointer to pull Penn State to within 11 with 4:06 to play. Ohio State would score six of the final eight points in the half and take a 15-point lead into the locker room.
at Penn State 27, Ohio State 42
Third Quarter
Ohio State scored 12 of the first 14 points in the third quarter to push its lead to 25 points, before Travascio-Green answered with a 3-pointer at the 6:33 mark. After five quick Buckeye points, Penn State would out-score Ohio State, 8-7, over the final four minutes of the quarter.
at Penn State 40, Ohio State 66
Fourth Quarter
A 19-5 scoring spurt opened up a 40-point Ohio State lead with 4:50 to play, with Alisia Smith (Lansing, Mich.) hitting two free throws, Travascio-Green adding a freebie and Carter hitting a layup to account for the Penn State scoring. Though, Penn State found some offense late in the contest, reeling off 19 of the final 23 points in the game to account for the final margin.
at Penn State 64, Ohio State 89
Up Next
Penn State will head to the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 11 seed, facing No. 14-seeded Illinois in the second of two games on Wednesday, Feb. 28. The contest will begin 25 minutes after the opening game of the day, which tips off at 1:30 p.m. The 25th Big Ten Tournament will take place at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis from Feb. 28-March 4. Television and other broadcast information will be available in the coming days.