UNIVERSITY PARK –Penn State women's basketball (13-16, 4-14) fell 80-65 against Michigan State (15-13, 7-10) Saturday afternoon at Bryce Jordan Center. Shay Ciezki produced a game-high and career-high 27 points, 10 field goals and seven three-pointers for the most points by a Lady Lion freshman under head coach Carolyn Kieger.
Penn State honored three seniors, Anna Camden, Johnasia Cash and Alexa Williamson in a pregame ceremony on Senior Day, present by Penn State Alumni Association.
Despite battling back from a 22-point deficit to six, the Lady Lions were unable to finish the climb to the top of the scoreboard in their regular season finale.
Penn State opened its scoring in the first quarter with a three-point jumper by Ciezki, but the Lady Lions were off to a slow start to open the first quarter, allowing Michigan State to go up by eight early in the first. Penn State found itself gaining momentum after another three by Ciezki but ended the first quarter still trailing in the game by nine (23-14).
The Lady Lions looked to take control of the game going into the second quarter but struggled to find a rhythm on both ends of the ball, allowing Michigan State to jump at opportunities and lead by as much as 22 points.
Ciezki continued to be a bright spot for the Lions' game, leading the Lions in scoring and nailing her 4th three-pointer of the game late in the second quarter.
The Lady Lions picked up the pace towards the end of the quarter, and with two free throws from Leilani Kapinus, the Spartans' lead was trimmed to 13 at halftime.
Ciezki continued to show out on offense, nailing her sixth three-pointer late in the third quarter surpassing her previous career high of five and ended the quarter with nearly half (24) of Penn State's 49 points.
The Lady Lions started to heat up late in the game, clawing at the Spartan's lead. A three-point jumper by Chanaya Pinto early in the fourth quarter narrowed the Spartan's lead to just six points.
The Lady Lions however couldn't slow down the Spartan's offensive spark late in regulation, trailing once again by double digits to end the game.
NOTES
- Ciezki led Penn State in scoring for the fifth and registered her third game with 20+ points and 17th double-figure game of the season.
- Kapinus racked up her fourth double-double of the season (11 points and 14 rebounds), all against Big Ten play, and led the Lady Lions in rebounding for the 11th time this year with the most rebounds in a single-game by a Lady Lion this season.
- She also racked up a game-high and career-high six assist, a game-high three blocks and went 7-7 at the charity stripe.
- Penn State finished a perfect 9-9 at the line as Pinto made both attempts.
UP NEXT
Penn State plays in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament as either the 12 or 13-seed in the first game of the tournament next Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.