MINNEAPOLIS – Makenna Marisa converted a three-point play off a layup with 30 seconds that allowed No. 13 seed Penn State women's basketball (14-16) to defeat No. 12 Minnesota (11-19) 72-67 in the opening game of the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Wednesday afternoon at Target Center. Marisa became the second Lady Lion to reach 1,750 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists, joining Tanisha Wright (2002-05, 1,995 points, 621 rebounds, 484 assists).
After the two teams traded a free throw following by Marisa's play, Penn State got a defensive stop, and Ali Brigham sank a pair at the line with 2.5 seconds to clinch the game.
The Lady Lions opened the game on a 21-3 run. Layups each from Alexa Williamson, Leilani Kapinus and Shay Ciezki on the first three possessions forced a Minnesota timeout one minute in. After the Gophers got on the board with a three-pointer, Penn State notched 11-straight points, all from Kapinus, Ciezki and Marisa.
With a 21-9 lead going into the second quarter, Penn State built it back up as high as 14 in the quarter. Marisa knocked down two-straight jumpers followed by a bucket in the paint from Johnasia Cash for a quick 6-0 run. Penn State maintained the double-digit lead into halftime (35-25).
Williamson produced four points on Penn State's first two possessions of the second half on an acrobatic layup and pair of free throws. Penn State closed out the third quarter with a fastbreak layup from Chanaya Pinto off her own steal, a layup from Marisa and a free throw by Taniyah Thompson for a 56-41 lead.
The Lady Lions still had a 15-point lead (61-46) two and a half minutes into the fourth quarter after a layup from Pinto, but the Gophers went on a 10-2 run. Minnesota then went on a 10-0 run starting with 3:06 left in regulation to tie the game up, setting up the heroics from Marisa.
NOTES
- Marisa went 9-18 from the field including two three's for 22 points along with three boards and two steals.
- She has recorded 82 double-digit scoring games and 37 20-point games with 13 this year.
- Ciezki had 15 points on 7-13 shooting from the field and two assists before an injury forced her to miss the fourth quarter.
- She has reached double-digits the last three games and has done so 18 times this year.
- Williamson had 10 points along with four boards.
- Kapinus was the fourth Lady Lion to reach double-digit point totals with 10 (5-8 from the field) in addition to six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
- She has gotten 10+ points in seven of the last eight games.
- Pinto notched a game-high five steals, seven points, team-high seven rebounds and two assists.
- Penn State forced 22 Minnesota turnovers, the 15th time the Lady Lions have caused 20+ turnovers by an opponent this season.
- Penn State had the edge in the paint (44-26).
UP NEXT
Penn State faces No. 5 Michigan in second round Thursday on the Big Ten Network at approximately 3 p.m. EST (25 minutes after the conclusion of No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Nebraska, which starts at 12:30 p.m.).