UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State women's basketball team opened its 2022-23 season with a 67-61 victory over Norfolk State (1-1) Wednesday night at Bryce Jordan Center. Makenna Marisa produced her third career double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
After a Spartans' 8-0 run to make it a one-point game with 1:43 left in regulation, the Lady Lions responded with a 7-2 run to end the game. Taniyah Thompson made a pair of free throws, Alexa Williamson made a jumper in the lane after an offensive rebound, Chanaya Pinto made a free throw and Marisa finished it off with a coast-to-coast layup.
The Lady Lions led wire-to-wire in the game and started with a 9-0 run on a trio of three-pointers from Marisa, Anna Camden and Thompson.
Penn State built its biggest lead (12) in the third quarter. Marisa had a personal 7-0 run on a jumper in the paint, three-pointer and layup.
NOTES
- Marisa went 8-16 from the field (2-4 from three) and 6-8 at the charity stripe.
- She recorded her 25th 20-point game.
- The Lady Lions extended their non-conference home-winning streak to 10 games, tied for the seventh longest in school history (11/15/02-12/21/03 and 12/19/81-1/30/83).
- Penn State is now 46-13 all-time in season openers and have won 16 of their last 17 season-opening contests.
- Thompson produced 15 points, going 5-11 from the field, 2-6 from deep and 3-3 at the line.
- Penn State drew 24 fouls to take 29 free throw attempts compared to just 12 attempts from Norfolk State.
- Kapinus went a perfect 6-6 in free throws and finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
- Thompson and Williamson (six points and seven boards) started in their Lady Lions' debut, and fellow transfers Alli Campbell and Chanaya Pinto also made their debuts at Penn State.
- Shay Ciezki came off the bench to make her collegiate debut.
- The matchup was the first between the two programs.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
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Penn State remains home to face Fairfield on Friday at 7 p.m.