LINCOLN, Neb. – Sophomore Makenna Marisa and freshman Maddie Burke both put together 20-point games, but the Penn State women's basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Nebraska squad in an 87-72 loss Sunday afternoon in Big Ten action at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Marisa finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a strong all-around effort. Burke drilled six three-pointers for the second-straight game to finish with 20 points. Senior Johnasia Cash notched her ninth double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Niya Beverley rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points, five assists and five steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Huskers jumped out to an early 10-5 lead before Penn State used three-pointers from Burke and Marisa and three points from Beverley to put together a 9-4 streak that knotted the game at 14. Penn State held Nebraska to just one point in the final 4:19 of the first quarter as a three-pointer from Marisa with nine seconds left on the clock gave Penn State a 17-15 edge at the end of the term.
- Burke (8) and Cash (7) combined for Penn State's first 15 points of the second quarter as the Lady Lions found themselves ahead 32-28 with 3:53 left on the first-half clock. But Nebraska went 5-for-5 from the floor and 2-for-2 from deep in the final 3:23 to put together a 12-2 run that gave the Huskers a 40-34 edge at the break.
- Two threes from Burke helped Penn State rattle off an 11-7 run over the first 3:09 of the second half as the Lady Lions pulled within 47-45. Nebraska responded by going 5-for-5 from deep in the final six minutes as the Huskers strung together a 23-9 streak that gave them a 70-54 lead going into the final term.
- Burke's sixth three of the game sparked a 7-0 Penn State run to open the fourth quarter as the Lady Lions clawed back within single digits at 70-61 three minutes into the term. It would be as close as Penn State would get the rest of the way, however, as Nebraska avoided a season sweep with the 87-72 victory.
KEY NOTES
- Marisa recorded her team-leading sixth 20-plus point game of the season.
- Burke notched her second-straight game with 20 points and six three-pointers. She has now made three or more three-pointers in seven of the last eight games.
- Cash's double-double was her ninth of the season and eighth in the last 12 games.
- Beverley finished in double figures for the fourth-straight game and the sixth time this season.
- Nebraska, who entered the game averaging 6.3 three-pointers per game at a 32.3 percent clip, made 13 three-pointers and shot 54.2 percent from deep.
- Penn State finished with 16 assists to just six turnovers.
UP NEXT
- Penn State heads into the home stretch of the regular season as the Lady Lions return to Happy Valley for their final two home games of the season next week.
- Penn State hosts #15 Ohio State Wednesday at 5 p.m. as senior Nia Staples will be honored on Senior Day.
- The Lady Lions then host Rutgers Sunday in the home finale at 12:30 p.m.
- Both games will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network.