Penn State Wraps Non-Conference Play With 88-65 VictoryPenn State Wraps Non-Conference Play With 88-65 Victory
Craig Houtz

Penn State Wraps Non-Conference Play With 88-65 Victory

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A full-team effort and balanced offensive attack led the Penn State women's basketball team to a dominant 88-65 win over Sacred Heart Sunday in the Lady Lions' non-conference finale at the Bryce Jordan Center.
 
Penn State got out to a fast 17-0 start and never looked back. Five Lady Lions finished in double figures in the balanced offensive effort. Senior Siyeh Frazier led with 17 points in addition to eight rebounds. Junior Kamaria McDaniel added 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. Freshman Makenna Marisa (14), junior Alisia Smith (11) and freshman Shay Hagans (11) rounded out the double-digit scorers.
 


 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Penn State was hot right out of the gates, starting 6-for-10 from the field to get out to a quick 17-0 lead just over five minutes into the game. Frazier scored seven points to help the rapid start, while SHU started 0-for-11 from the field to put Penn State in front 17-0 at the first media timeout.
  • The Pioneers converted their first basket at the 3:49 mark, but the PSU offense kept rolling as the Lady Lions took a 24-7 lead through the first quarter.
  • SHU narrowed the gap to 33-20 just under five minutes into the second term before Penn State responded with a 13-5 steak to close the half. Hagans contributed seven points to the stretch, while PSU was 6-for-9 from the field as the Lady Lions controlled a 46-25 lead at the break.
  • Penn State kept its momentum going in the second half as the Lady Lions started 4-for-5 from the floor to put together a 10-3 run to open the half and extend the PSU lead to 56-28.
  • The Pioneers wouldn't get closer than 20 the rest of the way. Penn State's lead reached as much as 30 at the 7:11 mark of the fourth quarter before the Lady Lions walked away with the 88-65 win.



KEY NOTES

  • Penn State recorded season-best marks in rebounds (55), second-chance points (29), and assists (18).
  • Penn State tied its season high with eight made three-pointers. The Lady Lions were an efficient 8-for-16 (50.0%) from downtown.
  • Five Penn State players scored in double figures for the first time since Nov. 8, 2018 against Providence.
  • Penn State held a dominant 55-27 rebound edge and 29-7 advantage in second-chance points.
  • PSU's 88 points marked the second-highest scoring performance of the season.
  • Hagans' 11 points marked a new career best for the rookie.
  • Penn State improved to 2-0 all-time against Sacred Heart.
  • PSU heads into Big Ten play having won three of its last four non-conference games.

 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Carolyn Kieger

  • "We talked about creating our own energy today. With it being break and having no band, no cheerleaders, not knowing what kind of crowd we'd have, we knew we needed to bring our own juice. Our team did a good job with that. We hit a lull in the fourth quarter, but we won the third quarter and that's something that we've been working on."
  • "It was a great game to fix Penn State and to get ready for Big Ten play. I'm excited that our players get a few days off to rest and recover and then we hit it back hard when Minnesota comes to us."
  • "One of my favorite parts was that we had 18 assists today. That's our goal every game and the first time we hit it all year. When we're sharing the ball and we're running the lanes, then obviously other people are able to score. Something we've been really practicing and really watching in film is on-time and on-target practice and when to throw it. We're gradually getting better and being patient with it, but the drills and them locking in in film sessions is paying off."

 
UP NEXT

  • Penn State opens Big Ten play on Saturday, Dec. 28 when the Lady Lions host Minnesota.
  • Tipoff from the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 4 p.m.