Page Moves Up Career Scoring Charts In Loss At RutgersPage Moves Up Career Scoring Charts In Loss At Rutgers
Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics

Page Moves Up Career Scoring Charts In Loss At Rutgers

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Senior Teniya Page scored 23 points and sophomore Alisia Smith recorded her fourth double-double of the season, but it wasn't enough as Penn State suffered a 74-61 road loss at red-hot Rutgers in Big Ten action Sunday afternoon.
 
The Scarlet Knights shot 51.9 percent (14-for-27) from the field in the second half to turn a two-point halftime lead into a 74-61 victory as Rutgers collected its sixth-straight win.
 
Page's 23 points marked her fourth-straight 20-plus point effort and ninth overall on the season. She moved into seventh place on the Penn State career scoring leaderboard in the process, as her career total now sits at an impressive 1,901 points.
 
Smith's fourth double-double of the season was comprised of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Rutgers held a 7-2 lead just over two minutes into the game before a Page layup ignited a 10-0 run over the next 2:46. A three-pointer from senior Amari Carter capped the streak that put Penn State ahead 12-7 and forced a Rutgers timeout at the 4:19 mark.
  • The Scarlet Knights were within three at 17-14, but three Smith free throws and a four-point play from Page followed as Penn State used seven unanswered points to surge ahead 21-11 with 2:20 to play in the first quarter. Rutgers answered right back six-straight points to end the quarter, but Penn State still held a 21-17 heading into the second term.
  • Back-to-back three-pointers from Page and junior Jaida Travascio-Green served as the front end of an 8-2 Penn State streak to open the second stanza as the Lady Lions stretched their edge to 29-19 and forced another Rutgers timeout with 7:07 left on the clock.  
  • The Scarlet Knight offense heated up over the final six-plus minutes of the half and Penn State went 1-for-8 from the field as Rutgers closed the term on a 16-4 run to take a slim 35-33 lead into the break.
  • A layup from junior Siyeh Frazier momentarily tied the score at 35-35 20 seconds into the second half, but Rutgers rattled off the next 12 points to take a 47-35 lead just under four minutes into the third quarter.
  • The Lady Lions went 7-for-10 from the charity stripe and added two field goals in the final five-plus minutes of the term, but Rutgers held onto a 56-46 lead heading into the final quarter.
  • Page scored nine points in the opening five minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Scarlet Knights seemed to have an answer for every basket as Rutgers controlled a 69-59 lead with five minutes to play. The Lady Lions were never able to recover as Rutgers walked away with the 74-61 win.



KEY NOTES

  • With her 23 points this afternoon, Teniya Page moved her career total to 1,901 to move into seventh place on Penn State's all-time career scoring leaderboard. Page surpassed Class of 2019 Basketball Hall Of Fame nominee and former All-American Suzie McConnell (1,897 points; 1984-88) to move into seventh place.
  • The Lady Lions scored the third-most points of any of Rutgers' opponents thus far this season. The Scarlet Knights entered the game with the conference's best scoring defense, allowing just 51.5 points per game.
  • Page has scored in double figures in every game this season.
  • Smith tallied double-digit points for the ninth time this season.

 
STAT STANDOUTS

  • Rutgers was led by Arella Guirantes' 24 points.
  • The Lady Lions shot a game-best 46.2 percent (6-for-13) from the field in the first quarter.
  • Rutgers shot 51.9 percent (14-for-27) from the floor in the second half.
  • The Scarlet Knights out-scored the Lady Lions in the paint, 38-20.

 
UP NEXT

  • The Lady Lions will be back in action Saturday afternoon when Penn State welcomes Illinois to Happy Valley.
  • Tipoff from the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 2 p.m.