Lady Lions Fall To Huskers In Regular-Season FinaleLady Lions Fall To Huskers In Regular-Season Finale
Craig Houtz

Lady Lions Fall To Huskers In Regular-Season Finale

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's basketball team dropped a tough 79-74 decision to Nebraska Saturday afternoon in the teams' regular-season finale at the Bryce Jordan Center.
 
The Lady Lions erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit, but the Huskers held off Penn State in the final few minutes. The five-member senior class was honored prior to tipoff on Senior Day, as was long-time radio broadcaster Jerry Fisher who called his final home game as the voice of the Lady Lions. Fisher, the nation's longest-tenured NCAA women's basketball announcer, is retiring at the conclusion of the season – his 40th as the voice of the Lady Lions.




Senior Teniya Page finished with a game-high 22 points, marking her 12th 20-plus point effort of the season, in her return from a three-game injury layoff. Freshman Lauren Ebo recorded her second-straight double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Kamaria McDaniel followed with 10 points.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Huskers made four of their first five field goal attempts to jump out to a quick 9-2 lead just under three minutes into the game.
  • The Lady Lion defense stepped up in the final seven minutes of the quarter as Penn State closed the term on a 15-8 run. Ebo, junior Siyeh Frazier and McDaniel contributed four points apiece to the streak as the Lady Lions held Nebraska to a 4-for-12 clip from the field. The strong run tied the game at 17-17 heading into the second quarter.
  • The Huskers spent the first seven minutes of the second term on a 19-6 streak that put Nebraska in front 36-23. Five points from freshman Karisma Ortiz and four from Page helped Penn State score nine of the half's final 14, but the Huskers controlled a 43-32 lead at the break.
  • Nebraska was up by 14 at 50-36 two and a half minutes into the second half before the Lady Lions began their rally on the defensive end. Penn State forced six Nebraska turnovers in the final seven minutes, while seven points from Page helped the Lady Lions rattle off a 16-7 streak to pull within five at 57-52 at the end of the third quarter.
  • A jumper from Frazier was followed by a Page three-pointer to begin the final term and even the score at 57-57 with 9:09 left on the clock.
  • The Huskers scored the next six points to jump back in front a minute later.
  • An Amari Carter three-pointer and Page layup jolted the Lady Lions back within two at 65-63 with 5:15 to play.
  • The Nebraska lead ranged from two to six for the next few minutes before the score read 70-68 after a Frazier layup at the 1:41 mark.
  • The Huskers iced the game at the free throw line in the final minutes as Nebraska went 9-for-10 from the charity stripe in the final 1:33 to hold off Penn State for the 79-74 win.

 
KEY NOTES

  • Page has now scored in double-digits in 43-straight games dating back to last season. The senior has recorded 104 career double-figure scoring games.
  • Her 22 points mark her 12th 20-plus point effort of the season.
  • Ebo notched her second-straight and third-career double-double.
  • Ebo scored in double figures for the fourth time this season.
  • Ebo's 12 rebounds set a new Big Ten career high for the freshman.
  • McDaniel scored in double figures for the fifth-straight game and 14th time this season.
  • Nebraska takes a 7-6 edge in the all-time series with the win.

 
UP NEXT

  • The Lady Lions turn their attention to the Big Ten Tournament, which begins at 1:30 p.m. from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
  • Penn State, the No. 12 seed, will face No. 13-seeded Wisconsin at 1:30 p.m. in the tournament's opener on the Big Ten Network.
  • A full bracket will be announced at the conclusion of Sunday's Big Ten games.