BERKELEY, Calif. – The Penn State women's basketball team dropped a tough 64-56 battle to Long Beach State in the opening game of the Cal Classic Friday evening at Haas Pavillion.
Penn State will now square off against North Carolina Central Saturday at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT in the Cal Classic consolation game.
Freshman Makenna Marisa finished with a career-best 16 points to lead Penn State. Junior Kamaria McDaniel followed with 12 points to extend her double-digit scoring streak to 13-straight games.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Long Beach State got out to a quick 7-2 lead, but Penn State answered back with eight of the next 12 points to pull within one at 11-10 with 4:08 left on the first-quarter clock. The Beach responded with an 11-3 streak to close the quarter and take a 22-13 lead into the second term.
- A pair of three-pointers from Marisa helped Penn State score 11 of the first 17 points of the second quarter to pull the Lady Lions within four at 28-24 with under five minutes left on the first-half clock.
- Penn State remained within four after baskets from sophomore Bexley Wallace and freshman Anna Camden, but The Beach ended the half with a layup to take a 34-28 lead into the break.
- Marisa opened the second half with a three-pointer before The Beach rattled off eight of the next 10 points to claim a 42-33 advantage halfway through the term.
- The Long Beach State lead reached as much as 10 at 47-37 with 2:16 on the third-quarter clock before Marisa drilled her fourth three-pointer of the game and junior Alisia Smith added a free throw to pull PSU within 47-41 heading into the final term.
- LBSU scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to put its lead back at 10 at 51-41 with 7:13 to play. Penn State fought back as a McDaniel three-pointer capped a 7-2 run that narrowed the LBSU lead to 53-48 with four minutes left. The Lady Lions continued to battle, but wouldn't get any closer the rest of the way as Long Beach State held on for the 64-56 win.
KEY NOTES
- Marisa's career-best 16 points bested her previous career high of 15, which she recorded in the Nov. 5 season opener at Towson.
- McDaniel has now scored in double figures in every game this season and 13-straight games dating back to last season.
- Junior Alisia Smith led Penn State with eight rebounds.
- Hagans finished with a career-high and team-best four assists. It bested her previous career mark of two.
- Penn State shot 40.7 percent from the field (22-for-54) and 27.3 percent (6-for-22) from three-point range.
- The Lady Lions were 85.7 percent (6-for-7) from the free throw line. Penn State entered the game averaging 17 made free throws per game.
- Long Beach State scored 20 points off 24 PSU turnovers. LBSU also held a 34-20 advantage in points in the paint.
UP NEXT
- Penn State concludes the Cal Classic Saturday at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT against North Carolina Central.