UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A big fourth quarter and another dominant performance from senior Johnasia Cash led the Penn State women's basketball team to an 85-74 win over Nebraska Thursday night inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
Cash scored a game-high 27 points and pulled down a career-best 19 rebounds for her fourth-straight double-double and sixth in the last seven games. She is the first Penn State player in 24 years to notch double-doubles in four-consecutive games.
Penn State out-scored the Huskers 26-16 in the fourth quarter, fueled by a 17-3 run in the game's final 3:17.
In addition to Cash's performance, three other Lady Lions finished in double figures. Sophomore Makenna Marisa tallied 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Freshman Maddie Burke had 13 points and a career-best eight rebounds, while sophomore Shay Hagans chipped in 10 points and five rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nebraska scored the game's first basket, but Penn State responded with the next eight points thanks to five from Anna Camden and a deep Niya Beverley three-pointer that gave Penn State an early 8-2 edge less than four minutes into the game. The Huskers rallied to tie it at eight, but it was all Penn State for the rest of the first quarter. Eight points from Cash helped the Lady Lions close the term on a 12-4 run that gave Penn State a 20-12 edge through the first 10 minutes of play.
- After missing all seven of their three-point attempts in the first quarter, the Huskers found their stroke from behind the arc in the second quarter as Nebraska went 5-for-8 from deep. The Lady Lions had an answer, however, shooting 52.9 percent from the field in the second term to take a 44-40 lead into the break.
- Cash scored the second half's first five points to push the Lady Lion lead to 48-40. With Penn State up 51-42 with 7:16 to play in the half, the Huskers came back with a 12-0 run to take their first lead of the game since the 9:26 in the first quarter. Burke then kicked it up a notch in the final 2:46 of the third quarter, scoring eight points to give Penn State a 59-58 lead heading into the fourth.
- A back-and-forth fourth quarter saw Nebraska jump in front 71-68 with 3:39 to play. Cash took over the game from there, scoring eight points to fuel a 17-3 game-closing run for the Lady Lions. Penn State went 11-for-13 from the free throw line in the final 3:17 to seal the 85-74 victory.
KEY NOTES
- Penn State earns its third-straight win and fourth in the last six games.
- Penn State finished with nine turnovers, marking the third-straight game the Lady Lions have turned the ball over 10 times or less. It's the first time since 2017 that Penn State has committed 10 or fewer turnovers in three-straight games.
- Penn State beat Nebraska for the first time in the last four meetings. Prior to tonight, Penn State's last win over the Huskers came on Jan. 19, 2017 (86-69).
- The Lady Lions have scored 80 or more points in each game of their three-game winning streak.
- Cash is the first Penn State player to record double-doubles in four-straight games since former standout Angie Potthoff had a five-game double-double streak in 1997.
- Her 19 rebounds are the second-most boards ever by a Lady Lion in a single conference game as a Big Ten member (since 1992-93).
- Cash has now recorded double-doubles in six of her last seven games and has gone for 20-plus points in three of her last four contests.
- Marisa notched her ninth double-digit scoring game of the season.
- Burke tallied the third double-figure game of freshman season.
- Hagans finished in double-digits for the fourth time this season.
- Penn State finished with a 50-41 advantage on the boards and scored 20 second-chance points off 15 offensive rebounds.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Carolyn Kieger
- "Incredibly proud of our composure again down the stretch. Huge 26-16 fourth quarter for us and we made every right play down the stretch there and really kept our composure."
- "Obviously a monster game for Johnasia Cash. She is the first Penn State player in 24 years to have four-straight double-doubles, so it's not even like she's scoring 11 and 10 – she's getting almost 20 and 20 which is obviously incredibly impressive."
- "Another huge team win. Everybody stepped up in big moments. I'm incredibly proud that we out-rebounded that team tonight. They're a tough, physical team and we're undersized there. But when you have Cash and your post players pulling down 19 rebounds and Maddie Burke coming in with eight, that absolutely helps us out."
- "Phenomenal three-game stretch right now and I'm excited to go get another one on Sunday."
Senior Forward Johnasia Cash
UP NEXT
- Penn State remains home to host Wisconsin Sunday at 2 p.m. inside the Bryce Jordan Center.