UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's basketball team couldn't find its offensive rhythm Sunday afternoon as the Lady Lions suffered a 67-50 loss to #22/23 Northwestern in Big Ten action inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
Senior Johnasia Cash led Penn State with 14 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Makenna Marisa added 12 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Wildcats, who are ranked third in the country in fewest turnovers per game with an average of 10.0 per contest, had five turnovers in the first five minutes and eight in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the Lady Lions were unable to convert with 11 turnovers of their own in the opening frame. Northwestern connected on a trio of 3-pointers in the period, including a 30-footer at a shot clock buzzer, to establish a 14-10 lead.
- Northwestern used a 7-2 run to extend their lead to nine at 21-12 with 4:40 left in the second quarter. Penn State sophomore Shay Hagans made four consecutive free throws to make it a five-point game, but the Wildcats ended the half on an 8-0 run to go into the locker room with a 32-18 lead.
- NU scored the first four points of the third quarter to extend its lead to 18 just a minute and a half in. The Wildcats would stretch their advantage to 22 before a layup by Cash and back-to-back 3-pointers by Marisa and freshman Maddie Burke sliced the Wildcat lead to 14 with 1:24 remaining in the third.
- The teams played an even fourth quarter with the Wildcats closing out the 17-point win.
KEY NOTES
- The Lady Lions forced 14 Northwestern turnovers in the first half, equaling the Wildcats' highest turnover total of the season (at Purdue, 12/17/20). NU entered the game averaging 10.0 turnovers per game, which is the third-fewest in the country.
- For the game, Penn State forced 22 Wildcat turnovers, the most for Northwestern since turning the ball over 26 times at Minnesota on Feb. 10, 2019.
- The 22 forced turnovers are the most for the Lady Lions against a Big Ten opponent since forcing 22 errors against Michigan on Feb. 10, 2019.
- Freshman Maddie Burke had a career-high four rebounds, besting her previous personal best of three, which she has accomplished twice, most recently at Ohio State (1/4/21).
- Penn State played without its leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, Kelly Jekot, who was unavailable due to a non-COVID related injury.
- Cash recorded her eighth double-figure scoring game of the season, while Marisa notched her sixth.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Carolyn Kieger
- "We have a tall task ahead of us. Kelly Jekot suffered a season-ending injury, not related to COVID, this week and we have to figure out how to make up for her scoring, minutes and rebounding. Our team was definitely feeling that tonight, and I'm excited for three or four days of practice to be able to fix that and get in sync without her on the court. We'll figure out how we're going to revamp and figure out how we're going to make up for that loss by committee."
- "Kelly has such a high IQ and shares the ball really well. We're one of the youngest teams in the country, so when you lose that experience and lose that vet it's going to hurt until we have time to re-group and figure it out. It's going to have to be by committee, it's not going to be one person doing it. It's an awesome opportunity for them to step up, for them to grow and learn, and have their sisters' backs."
UP NEXT
- Penn State is scheduled to travel to Rutgers Thursday evening for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Scarlet Knights.