UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's basketball team fell 79-58 against Michigan State on Thursday night at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Lady Lions are now 9-10 overall and 3-6 in conference play, while Michigan State improved to 11-8 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten.
Makenna Marisa paced the Lady Lions with 19 points and hit five-of-six attempts from the free throw line. Ali Brigham contributed 11 points, on five-of-six from the field, and two blocks. Leilani Kapinus had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Penn State shot 36 percent from the floor, but 17-of-20 (85 percent) from the free throw line. The Lady Lions recorded seven steals and five blocks.
Michigan State had five players in double figures, led by Nia Clouden's 16 points to go with five rebounds and five assists. Matilda Ekh and Taiyier Parks each had 15 points, while DeeDee Hagemann had 13 and Alisia Smith had 12. The Spartans shot 53 percent from the field and 50 percent from three (10-of-20).
The teams traded runs in the first quarter. Penn State opened the game building to an 8-2 lead, highlighted by five from Marisa. The Spartans answered with a 16-3 run to close the period. Clouden contributed seven during the stretch, while Smith had four points. Penn State trailed 18-11 after one.
Penn State began the second quarter scoring eight of the first 13 points of the period. Hagans contributed five points during the run. Penn State trailed 23-19 at the 7:26 mark. After a pair of free throws by Smith and a jumper by Tamara Farquhar, the blue and white answered with two layups by Brigham and two free throws by Kapinus to cut the deficit to 27-25 with 4:24 to go in the half. Michigan State closed out the half with an 11-4 run, highlighted by two layups by Smith and two jumpers by Parks. Penn State trailed 38-29 going into the break.
An 8-2 run to open the third quarter helped Penn State to closed the gap to 41-37 at the 6:14 mark. Brigham and Marisa each had three points during the run. After a three by Clouden and a pair of free throws by Marisa, the Spartans closed out the quarter with a 17-4 run. Clouden had six points and Ekh had four during the run. Michigan State led 61-43 going into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Lions began the fourth with a 10-4 run, featuring seven points by Marisa and three by Hagans, to pull within 12, 65-53, at the 4:31 mark. Michigan State answered with a pair of free throws by Farquhar and a layup by Parks to stretch the advantage back to 16 points and lead them to the 79-58 final margin.
Penn State hosts No. 17 Maryland on Sunday, January 30 for a 2 p.m. tipoff on B1G+. the Lady Lions will be celebrating Alumni Day and National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Fans are encouraged to wear white.
