UNIVERSITY PARK — Ali Brigham led the Lady Lions with 19 points as Penn State (13-10, 4-8) secured a 74-64 win over Northwestern (8-14, 1-10) Thursday night in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Brigham had the Lady Lions off to a hot start, making the team's four baskets in a row, and she would shoot 5-for-5 to net 10 points in the first quarter alone as Penn State took a 23-18 lead.
But momentum swung in favor of Northwestern as they opened the second with a 10-2 run. The Wildcats' kept a narrow edge at the half, 36-34.
Northwestern drained two straight buckets to kick off the second half, but it did not deter the Lady Lions who proceeded to go on a 12-0 run, which featured back-to-back treys from Shay Ciezki and Makenna Marisa.
Penn State took advantage of a four-minute Wildcat drought in which it forced seven turnovers. The Lady Lions doubled the Wildcats in the period 22-11 for the 56-47 advantage.
The Lady Lions maintained at least a two-possession lead throughout the fourth and built their lead to their largest of ten points at the buzzer.
NOTES
- Ali Brigham finished with a season-high 19 points, also the most against a Big Ten opponent in her two seasons at Penn State.
- It marked Brigham's 26th career double-digit game and 11th as a Lady Lion.
- Leilani Kapinus finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, seven steals and three blocks. She has 15 games with 3+ steals this season, including six in a row, and her three blocks ties a Big Ten high, which she set last game at Maryland on Jan. 30.
- Marisa's 15 points moved her to 11th on the program's career points leader board. It was also her 77th career game in double figures.
- Ciezki netted 18 points, her 14th double digit game this season.
- Taniyah Thompson recorded the 100th assist of her career.
- Penn State won the turnover margin, forcing 23 turnovers for the 14th game with opponents having 20+ turnovers, including eight in B1G play.
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Penn State stays home to face No. 6/6 Iowa Sunday at noon in the 17th annual Play4Kay Game Benefiting Pink Zone.