Game Grades: Penn State Women’s Basketball vs. No. 16 Iowa
Penn State women’s basketball fell to the No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes 67-108 on Saturday in Iowa City. This marks the second game that the Blue and White have lost in a row as they enter the final half of the ACC and Big Ten Challenge.
The Lady Lions came into the game 11-6 on the season with a 2-4 conference record after a crushing defeat to Nebraska. The Blue and White were held to just 51 points in that game, going 18 for 63 from the field and five for 21 from the three point range.
Offense: C-
For the second straight game the Lady Lions could not get anything to fall from the three point range, going 3 for 21 from beyond the arc. Shay Ciezki was the best of three for Penn State, going two for eight while finishing the day with a team leading 20 points.
Makenna Marisa was held to a season low five points, going 2-13 from the field with two turnovers. The all dangerous senior guard who has a history of spreading out the opponents defense was unable to do so on Saturday, resulting in a complete collapse in the offense.
The offense was also unable to capitalize off offensive rebounds and fast breaks from turnovers. The Lady Lions only had three fast break points and six second chance points.
Defense: D
No. 16 Iowa made their presence well known early in the opening quarter of the game, jumping out to an early 34-15. The defense would slow down the Hawkeyes offense in the following quarters but still gave up a season high 108 points by the end of regulation.
The team had no answers for Caitlin Clark who ended the day with a double-double, 27 points and 10 assists. Clark went 9-for-15 from the field while going 6-for-6 from the foul line and only turned the ball over one time.
Coaching: C
There wasn’t much for the coaching staff to do in this one, the Lady Lions couldn’t get their shots to fall from three. The team simply struggled in all aspects of the game against a very talented and physical Iowa squad.
The rotation was fluid throughout the game with Anna Camden and Taniyah Thompson getting a ton of minutes off the bench. Johnasia Cash and Ali Brigham were both limited in their play after struggling to get in a groove while nearly fouling out of the game.
The Blue and White remain winless in their five road games and are now 2-5 in conference games this season. The Lady Lions will travel back to State College to try to improve their 11-7 record against the Minnesota Gophers on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Micheal Bolger is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him email mpb6233@psu.edu.
