ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Despite offensive efforts from the power duo of Gracie Merkle and Gabby Elliott, Penn State falls to Michigan 78-68 in Ann Arbor. Penn State drops to 10-17, 1-15 Big Ten while Michigan improves to 19-8, 10-6 in conference play.
Redshirt sophomore Merkle recorded her fourth consecutive game with a double-double, putting up 18 points on eight-of-11 shooting to go with 10 boards. Graduate Elliott posted her seventh-straight double-digit scoring outing with 15 points to lift the scoring duo to their seventh game both scoring 10-or-more points. Redshirt sophomore Moriah Murray entered the double figure scoring column using four three pointers. Gradate Alli Campbell led the Lady Lions in assists with seven, matching her conference best assist number. As a team, PSU outshot Michigan from the field by a 45.6%-42.4% margin and from beyond the arc, clipping 31.6%-30.4%. The Lady Lions were also productive off the bench, totaling 23 points from their subs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Michigan won the opening tip off and immediately converted a three-point basket. The Lady Lions scored on their ensuing possession, finding Merkle under the basket. Both teams traded baskets once more before the series of back-to-back conversions on both ends was silenced by stops on defense. Michigan got another three on the board to extend to a four-point advantage. After several missed opportunities for both squads, the Lady Lions drained a three pointer out of the hands of Murray. Consecutive shots from long range for Michigan extended the margin to seven points until Merkle found her footing again with another two points. Merkle drew a foul on an offensive rebound to earn a trip to the line where she put up one point. Neither team put points across on their next possessions until Grace Hall posted her first two points of the game but was immediately quieted by a driving layup from the Wolverines. Merkle added two points in response to keep the margin at two points, but two free throws for UM moved it back to a four-point deficit, sealing the score at 18-14 after the first quarter of action.
Second Quarter
Michigan struck first in the second stanza, engaging in a 6-0 run until Steele earned a trip to the line where she sank two free throws to cut the margin to eight points. A pair of shots from the line for the home team bolstered their lead back to double digits. The Wolverines forced a turnover on PSU’s next offensive possession, allowing them to put up another basket. Back-to-back turnovers at each end was concluded with Merkle draining two more points on the fastbreak off the turnover. Michigan had the response with two points, maintaining a 12-point edge. A basket from Michigan as sandwiched by two three pointers from Murray to bring the score to 32-24 into the media timeout. The Wolverines added two points out the break, but Gabby Elliott drained a three pointer to bring Penn State back within seven as the response. Michigan’s bucket with 30 seconds remaining were the final points of the half, sending the team’s into halftime with a 36-27 score.
Third Quarter
Murray opened the quarter, draining her fourth triple of the afternoon to chip into the deficit but a 9-2 run opened up the game for Michigan. Elliott put up two points after the media timeout, but the Wolverines answered with consecutive baskets on their end. A layup from Hall was answered with two points from the home team to clip a 17-point advantage. Penn State’s six points to Michigan’s one allowed the Lady Lions to creep closer, but the Wolverines found its footing with a basket on their end after a series of missed opportunities. Merkle completed a three-point play to bring PSU back within single digits and a stop on defense cut the margin even more following a three from Tamera Johnson. Michigan silenced PSU’s offensive efforts with a loud three pointer, bringing the score to 57-48 heading into the final period.
Fourth Quarter
A pullup jumper followed by a free throw to complete the three-point play opened the scoring in the fourth quarter. A play of the same kind went the way of the home team on the ensuing possession. After a series of missed chances for both teams, Michigan put up two points off of a PSU turnover. Campbell drained a pair of free throws to cut the deficit back to single digits. Both teams did not convert on their next two offensive trips with missed shots and turnovers, but Michigan broke the cycle with its seventh long-range shot of the day to create a 65-53 score at the media timeout. The Wolverines two made free throws added to their lead but was followed by a series of miscues and missed shots for both teams with no scoring for almost two minutes of game time. The Blue put up two second chance points to extend to a 16-point lead, forcing PSU to use a timeout. Elliott took a trip to the line where she added one point for the Lady Lions but an immediate foul following sent the Wolverines back to the line and into the bonus for another pair of points at the line. PSU strung together consecutive points with a shot from Elliott and free throws from Jill Jekot and Shae Steele. Hall and Merkle put up points to cut into the deficit, bringing it to 10 points but Michigan responded with another two to maintain its double figure advantage. Despite efforts from PSU to fight, Michigan earned a 78-68 win.
POSTGAME NOTES
Penn State vs Michigan
February 22, 2025
Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
- This game marked the 54th meeting between Penn State and Michigan with the Wolverines improving to 22-32 all-time
- Merkle notched her fourth-straight double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. This was her seventh consecutive game scoring in double figures and 22nd of the season.
- Murray drained four three pointers, marking her ninth game this season with four or more.
- Elliott posted double figure scoring for the seventh game in a row and 19th time this campaign with 15 points.
- Alli Campbell dished out seven assists matching her Big Ten personal best number.
- Penn State shot better from both the field and from three-point range, shooting at 46% and 32% respectively.
- The Lady Lions dished out 16 assists while Michigan recorded 10.
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