PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Penn State concludes regular season with a tight 75-50 loss at Rutgers on Sunday afternoon. The Lady Lions drop to 10-19, 1-17 Big Ten while Rutgers improves to 11-18, 3-15 Big Ten. Despite the loss, the Lady Lions had several individual strong performances. Redshirt-junior Grace Hall notched another career day, matching her point total from the previous game at 16. Graduate guard Gabby Elliott recorded her ninth consecutive game reaching double figure scoring numbers, putting up 15 points including three from three-point range. Tamera Johnson entered the double-digit scoring column again with 11 points to go with six rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Rutgers sank a three pointer to open the game off its opening tip off win. Hall earned a trip to the free throw line to add two points for Penn State. The Scarlet Knights scored on their next trip down the court, but Elliott had the answer on the other end to tie the score at fives. Elliott went on to nail two more threes in back-to-back fashion to alter the lead, but Rutgers continued to tie it with layups on its end. RU was the first team to string together back-to-back points following a three pointer and a Penn State foul on its next offensive possession. Five points for PSU were broken up by two three pointers from the Scarlet Knights to allow the home team to hold a four-point advantage. Rutgers’ two free throws were the final points of the quarter, making for a 24-18 Rutgers lead after 10 minutes of action.
Second Quarter
Penn State opened the stanza on a 6-2 run, cutting the margin to two points but a pair of free throws gave Rutgers another four-point edge. Neither team converted on their offensive opportunities for a portion of the second quarter. A putback basket from Hall followed by a long shot from beyond the arc from Jayla Oden gave Penn State the lead back for the first time since the first quarter with under two minutes to play. Four consecutive points for Rutgers sent the lead back to the home team. A duo of free throws for both squads concluded the half at a 34-31 score, with the Scarlet Knights in the lead.
Third Quarter
The teams traded baskets, with PSU striking first until RU strung together two baskets and a free throw to push its edge to six points. Shaelyn Steele cut the deficit to one point by draining a three pointer. A combined effort from Alli Campbell and Talayah Walker forced a turnover on the Scarlet Knights, allowing the Lady Lions to put up consecutive points and tie the score at 42-42. Despite Rutgers adding a point to the board following a free throw, Walker continued to drive to the basket and add two more for PSU. The teams continued to exchange points with Walker and Johnson giving Penn State a one-point advantage. Rutgers maintained its pressure forcing multiple lead changes throughout the third stanza. Back-to-back baskets for Penn State gave it its first three-point lead of the game but the Scarlet Knights continued to respond, coming back out in front 56-50 at the end of the third period.
Fourth Quarter
Despite the first points coming from Penn State, Rutgers added five points to balloon its lead to nine points. PSU cut the margin to five points using a free throw and a shot from long range out of the hands of Oden for her second of the day. The Scarlet Knights responded with two threes on their next two offensive possessions to take a 67-58 lead with under four minutes to play. Walker and Campbell both found the basket to inch closer and cut the deficit to five points. Johnson put back a second chance opportunity to creep within three, but a basket and a pair of free throws extended Rutgers’ lead to seven points heading into the final minute. Hall drained her second three of the day to fight for the lead but Rutgers continued advantage was too much to overcome, making the final score 75-70
POSTGAME NOTES
Penn State at Rutgers
March 2, 2025
Jersey Mikes Arena (Piscataway, N.J.)
- Hall posted her second consecutive game reaching the double-digit mark with 16 points including two three pointers.
- There were 12 lead changes and five tie scores throughout the contest.
- Elliott reached double figures for the ninth consecutive time and 20th time this season with 15 points. The graduate guard shot three-of-six from three-point range.
- Johnson scored in double figures for the first time since Nov. 10, posting 11 points to go along with six rebounds.
- Campbell put up six points to go along with six rebounds, three assists and a Big Ten best three steals.
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