UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Despite wielding a double-digit advantage with just over six minutes to play, the Penn State women’s basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 77-73 decision to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Sunday afternoon from the Bryce Jordan Center.
Penn State moved to 10-11 overall on the 2024-25 campaign and dropped to 1-9 against Big Ten Conference competition following Sunday afternoon’s result. The Blue & White squared off against the Scarlet Knights for the 57th time in program history on Sunday, with the Lady Lions now trailing Rutgers by a 35-22 differential since the first meeting of the two squads as Atlantic 10 Conference competitors. With the win, Rutgers rises to 9-12 overall and secured its first B1G victory, moving to 1-9 against league foes this season.
Despite the final scoreline, the Blue & White were remarkably effective from 3-point territory, connecting on 53% of their long-range attempts. PSU managed to out-shoot their opponents from the field as well, while picking up a 34-30 victory in terms of scoring in the painted area. Redshirt sophomore guard Moriah Murray continued her solid stretch of individual outings with a 21-point outburst that included a 6-for-10 finish from beyond the 3-point arc. Graduate guard Gabby Elliott poured in 14 points of her own, while redshirt sophomore center Gracie Merkle rounded out the trio of Penn Staters in double figures on the stat sheet, finishing with 11 on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Lady Lions brought in the opening tip and immediately got to work on the offensive end, with Hall booking a quick and-one bucket on the opening possession of the afternoon. Rutgers snapped back with a second-chance paint bucket moments later, but a left-wing triple from Murray kept the Blue & White rolling. The Scarlet Knights remained close through a back-and-forth early going, but a physical driving layup from Oden and transition triple from Murray in the right corner gave PSU a 15-8 lead with 5:35 left in the frame. Each squad exchanged 3-point opportunities out of the brief timeout, and a physical layup from Merkle marked off a 5-0 PSU run. The Scarlet Knights rattled off a 6-0 response with two long-range makes, but Oden connected on a triple of her own to halt the Rutgers momentum. A logo 3-pointer from Murray kept the foot on the gas for Penn State, with the Lady Lions ultimately carrying a 28-21 advantage through 10 minutes of work.
Second Quarter
Rutgers got things started offensively with a floater in the paint and a steal-and-score bucket, but a successful trip to the line from Walker preserved the Lady Lion edge. The Scarlet Knights pulled within three of PSU, but a solid 6-0 scoring run aided by another Murray triple saw Penn State balloon the lead to nine. Rutgers connected on a mid-range bucket moments later, but consistent work from Merkle, Walker and additional sharpshooting from Murray saw the Lady Lion lead grow to 40-29 with just over four minutes left in the half. The Blue & White embarked on a 9-2 run over the next three and a half minutes, and despite a Scarlet Knight fastbreak bucket with 47 seconds to go, Walker beat the shot clock with a layup down low to make it a 47-33 Penn State advantage at the halftime intermission.
Third Quarter
The Scarlet Knights were aggressive in the paint to start the second half of action, utilizing back-to-back and-one buckets to rattle off a quick 6-0 scoring run that was answered by an emphatic corner triple from Elliott. Rutgers booked a 2-for-2 trip to the stripe the next time down the floor and added a fastbreak score to bring the Scarlet Knights back within seven, but a driving bucket from Campbell kept PSU in control. Thanks to a physical paint finish from Elliott and a triple from Campbell on the right wing, Penn State carried a 57-45 advantage into the third quarter media timeout. Out of the break, both teams managed to go on extended scoring runs highlighted by a 7-0 stretch by the Lady Lions followed by a 5-0 reply from Rutgers just before the end of the period. Penn State owned a 64-52 lead through the first half hour of competition with 10 minutes to go.
Fourth Quarter
Rutgers chipped away at the Penn State advantage with a right-corner 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter, but a layup from Merkle preserved the double-digit Lady Lion edge. After a stoppage of play, PSU kept the offense going with a tough layup from Campbell, but the Scarlet Knights embarked on a quick 5-0 scoring run to pull within eight. Despite a basket from Elliott at the 6:11 mark of the fourth quarter to make it a double-digit Penn State lead, the Scarlet Knights were able to surge back with a 17-0 scoring run to take a seven-point advantage of their own in the waning moments of the contest. Despite a trio of free throw makes from Murray with a tenth of a second to play, the Scarlet Knights were able to come away with a 77-73 result.
POSTGAME NOTES
Rutgers at Penn State
January 26, 2025
Bryce Jordan Center (University Park, Pa.)
- Johnson made her first start as a Lady Lion against Rutgers this afternoon.
- Murray posted her sixth game this season with six-plus shots from beyond the arc with six in the outing. She has totaled 18 threes over the last three games. She also put up 21 points, her sixth 20-plus-point outing of the season and second in a row.
- Elliott scored in double figures for the 13th time this season with 14 points.
- Merkle posted 11 points and eight rebounds.
- The Lady Lions dished out 21 assists, their ninth time this season producing 20-or-more assists.
- Every Penn State player that touched the court scored at least two points.
- PSU drained 10 shots from beyond the arc, the team’s second consecutive game posting 10-plus shots from long range.
- The Lady Lions outshot the Scarlet Knights from all areas of the court, posting 49.1% shooting from the field and 52.8% from three-point range.
- The Blue & White led for 37:29 minutes of the game.
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