Strong Second Half Lifts Lady Lions Past WildcatsStrong Second Half Lifts Lady Lions Past Wildcats
Mark Selders

Strong Second Half Lifts Lady Lions Past Wildcats

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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.