Penn State Breaks 8-Game Losing Streak in Comeback Win Against Nebraska
Penn State started out the game well with a Makenna Marisa 3-pointer to put the Lady Lions on top.
Nebraska would respond with a talented offensive attack featuring the likes of Jaz Shelley, Allison Weidner and Alexis Markowski. The Cornhuskers would consistently find open players on offense and that would provide them with plenty of chances to score.
On the other side, the Penn State offense would struggle while trying to get effective screens. The pace of play was very fast in the first quarter with Nebraska even having players wide open for easy shots at times while the Lady Lions struggled to make shots.
Leilani Kapinus showed a solid effort in the first for Penn State but came up with little to show for it. The Cornhuskers offense was also fueled by six offensive rebounds in the first with Shelley and Weidner each having a pair.
In the second quarter, the Lady Lions started off very slowly with only five points to show for after a little more than halfway through the second quarter. This was a combination of sloppy play and missed opportunities for the offense.
The Penn State defense also tightened up for the second quarter as the outside shots that Nebraska was making easily earlier in the game, weren’t falling as much.
A pair of 3-pointers by Kelly Jekot and Maddie Burke gave the Lady Lions life in the second before the Cornhuskers answered. Nebraska was able to beat the press defense by Penn State by working the paint game.
Penn State ended the second quarter by going 5-for-7 on field goals.
The third quarter started out with the teams trading 3-point shots. Penn State would then get back into the game with an and-1 by Niya Beverly and a three pointer by Burke.This would bring the Lady Lions to within eight of Nebraska before Shelley responded with a 3-pointer of her own.
The Cornhuskers continued to be dominant in the paint to keep pace with the second half attack by the Lady Lions.
The game began to slip away for the Lady Lions in the fourth when the Cornhuskers continued to respond by consistently making shots.
Kapinus and Anna Camden helped the Lady Lions fight back to within six points of the Cornhuskers before Shay Hagans got an and-1 to bring Penn State within three.
The 12-0 run over a minute and eight seconds would put the Lady Lions firmly back in the game.
“Everyone misses layups, everyone misses shots. So we just move onto the next 200 feet, get the next layup, get the next steal,” guard Makenna Marisa said postgame.
Penn State would take its second lead of the game with six minutes left in the fourth quarter as Hagans converted another and-1.
The Cornhuskers would capitalize on a few fouls by Penn State to bring it within two points. The Lady Lions would then go up by four with less than a minute left. Jekot would make a 3-point shot to put the Nittany Lions up 81-74.
When the final buzzer sounded, Penn State officially held on to secure the victory, 83-76, with Marisa leading the Lady Lions in scoring with 22 points.
“We’ve been preaching toughness all year, and they showed it and now we know we can do it, and now we can build upon it,” head coach Carolyn Kieger said postgame.
This is Penn State’s first win since Jan. 20. Up next, the Lady Lions have a second date with Michigan State, this time in East Lansing on Monday, February 21.
James Morrison is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jpm6920@psu.edu.
