EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Penn State women's basketball team trimmed a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit down to single digits, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 57-48 road defeat at Michigan State in Big Ten action Wednesday night.
Freshman Lauren Ebo registered her second career double-double, and first of Big Ten play, with 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Lady Lions. Sophomore Kamaria McDaniel added 12 points and a team-best four assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Lady Lions scored the game's first two baskets, but Michigan State answered with a 10-2 run as Penn State went cold from the field and the Spartans took a 10-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
- The Spartans recorded the first basket of the second term before a pair of layups and an NBA-range three-pointer from McDaniel composed a 7-2 Penn State burst that brought the Lady Lions within 14-13 with 7:26 left on the first-half clock.
Kamaria McDaniel from NBA range as the shot clock expires 😱😱😱#BringTheRoar pic.twitter.com/UcEH2P0RqC
— Penn State Lady Lion Basketball (@PennStateWBB) February 28, 2019
- The Lady Lions remained within one at 21-20 three minutes later, but Michigan State rattled off an 11-4 run to close the half as the Spartans took a 32-24 lead at the break.
- Junior Jaida Travascio-Green nailed a three-pointer to open the second half and Ebo followed with a layup that quickly pulled Penn State within 32-29 less than a minute into the third quarter.
- Michigan State capitalized on a cold-shooting stretch for the Lady Lions, however, as the Spartans scored 19 of the final 23 points of the third quarter to take a 51-33 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
- MSU scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, but the Penn State defense stepped up to fuel a 13-2 burst over the next 7:15. The Lady Lion defense forced seven Spartan turnovers during the stretch as MSU went 0-for-6 from the field. Baskets from five different Lady Lions provided the offense as the streak had Penn State back within single digits at 55-46 with 2:23 to play.
- Penn State wasn't able to get any closer, however, as the Spartans held on for the 57-48 win.
KEY NOTES
- The Penn State defense held Michigan State to 57 points. The Spartans entered the game averaging 77.2 points per game.
- Ebo's double-double is the first of her career in Big Ten play and the first for any Lady Lion since Jan. 12, 2019 when Alisia Smith tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds.
- Ebo scored in double digits for the third time of her career.
- McDaniel scored in double figures for the fourth-straight game and the 13th time this season.
- The Lady Lions shot 30.5 percent (18-for-9) from the field compared to Michigan State's clip of 41.2 percent (21-for-51).
UP NEXT
- The Lady Lions close out the regular season Saturday at home against Nebraska. The game will air nationally on the Big Ten Network and tipoff is set for 3 p.m. from the Bryce Jordan Center.
- The program's five-member senior class will be honored prior to tipoff on Senior Day.