#19 Indiana Pulls Away For Win Over Penn State
Johnasia Cash goes off for 19 points and 17 rebounds
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Senior Johnasia Cash put together a stellar double-double performance with 19 points and 17 rebounds and four Lady Lions finished in double figures, but #19/18 Indiana pulled away down the stretch to hand the Penn State women’s basketball team an 85-64 loss Thursday night inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
Cash’s 19 points and 17 rebounds marked her best effort in a Penn State uniform, and her 17 rebounds are tied for the second-most by a Big Ten player this season. Freshman Tova Sabel tied her career high with 15 points. Kelly Jekot added 13 points and Makenna Marisa chipped in 10 to round out the double-digit scoring.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Indiana raced out to a 9-2 lead, but Penn State responded with a 10-0 streak thanks to two Sabel three-pointers and a pair of Cash layups that put Penn State up 12-11 midway through the first quarter. The Lady Lion lead reached 16-13 before the Hoosiers scored the final six points of the term to take a 19-16 edge into the second quarter.
- The Hoosiers’ lead reached as much as six in the second term, but Penn State’s defense stepped up to hold Indiana to a 33.3 percent clip from the field in the quarter. Sophomore Shay Hagans hit a fast-break layup to end the half and pull Penn State within 33-30 at the break.
- Indiana was 5-for-6 from the field and 2-for-3 from three-point range to open the second half as the Hoosiers extended their advantage to 48-38 and force a Penn State timeout with 6:05 left on the third-quarter clock. IU finished the third quarter shooting 58.8 percent (10-for-17) from the field to carry its 10-point lead into the final frame at 60-50.
- The Lady Lions clawed within six at 64-58 shortly into the fourth quarter, but Indiana then used an 11-0 run to gain the separation it would need to claim the 85-64 win.
KEY NOTES
- Penn State played its third-straight and fourth nationally-ranked opponent in its past five games.
- Cash’s career-high 17 rebounds were the most by a Penn State player since De’Janae Boykin had 19 against Drexel on Nov. 12, 2017. Her 17 rebounds are tied for the second-most by a Big Ten player this season.
- Cash is the fifth different player to lead the Lions in scoring this season. She recorded her second double-double of the season.
- Sabel matched her career high with 15 points. She finished 4-for-5 from the floor, 3-for-4 from deep and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.
- Jekot has scored in double figures in every game this season.
- Marisa tallied her fifth double-digit effort.
- Niya Beverley got her first start in a Penn State uniform.
- Penn State finished the game with a 36-4 advantage in bench points.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Carolyn Kieger
- “Three top-25 teams in a row was an excellent opportunity for us to learn, to grow, and to figure out what our weaknesses are.”
- “That’s (Indiana) a very good team right there. I’m proud of our first-half effort, but very displeased with how we gave up there in that fourth quarter. We’ll fix that, no doubt.”
- “We’re not there yet. We’ve got to keep grinding, we’ve got to keep building. We’ve had a tough stretch here that shows us what we need to build upon. We’ve got an awesome opportunity going to Minnesota and we have to get that one.”
UP NEXT
- Penn State travels to Minnesota Sunday for a 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT showdown with the Gophers.