PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A career-high 33 points by Makenna Marisa powered the Penn State women's basketball team to a 68-60 win over Duquesne on Saturday at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The Lady Lions improved to 7-5 on the season, while Duquesne dropped to 5-7.
Marisa earned her second 30-point game of the season with 33, including three three-pointers and a six-of-seven performance from the free throw line. Marisa has seven games with at least 20 points and double-figures in all 12 contests. Marisa added three rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Sophomore Ali Brigham contributed 15 points off the bench, posting seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Brigham recorded her seventh double-figure game of the season.
Anna Camden tallied five points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks, while Leilani Kapinus had four points, seven rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.
Penn State shot 43 percent from the floor, including 71 percent (10-of-14) in the third quarter and 50 percent (9-of-18) in the second quarter. On the defensive end, Penn State posted nine steals and seven blocks.
Duquesne was paced by Tess Myers' 21 points, including five three-pointers. Fatou Pouye contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, while Megan McConnell had seven points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals.
In the first quarter, the teams traded field goals with a layup by Brigham tying the game at 9-9 with 5:55 left in the period. Duquesne went on a short 7-0 run, including a three by Myers, to hold a 16-9 advantage. A layup by Camden and a three by Marisa helped PSU to close the deficit to 18-14 to end the quarter.
Duquesne's lead reached as high as eight, 31-23, in the second quarter, but the Lady Lions answered with an 11-0 run. Brigham had the first four points of the run, while Marisa tallied the last five after a layup by Shay Hagans. Penn State held a 34-31 lead at the 1:49 mark in the quarter. A trio of free throws by the Dukes tied the game back up at 34-34, but a layup by Marisa beat the buzzer to give Penn State a 36-34 lead going into the break.
The teams were tied 40-40 at the 7:32 mark of the third quarter. After a three by Camden and a layup by Duquesne's McConnell, Penn State went on a 14-4 run to extend its lead to 57-46 with 3:20 to go in the frame. Marisa had 10 points during the run, including a pair of threes, a layup and a jumper. Brigham and Hagans each added a layup. A three by McConnell and another layup by Marisa closed the quarter with Penn State leading 59-49.
Duquesne started the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run, including four points each by Amaya Hamilton and Pouye, to tie the game at 59-59. With 5:32 left in the game, Marisa drew a foul and sank both free throws to break the tie. After a free throw by the Dukes' Pouye, Marisa scored on a layup off an in-bound play to extend the lead to 63-60. Marisa then found Sabel for a layup to grow the lead to five. Marisa hit a pair of free throws and Brigham added one to close out the victory, 68-60.
Makenna Marisa