Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Short Against #18/19 Iowa
McDaniel, Marisa lead Lady Lion scoring
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women’s basketball team trimmed a 23-point fourth-quarter deficit down to single digits, but wasn’t able to complete the comeback in a 77-66 loss to #18/19 Iowa Thursday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Junior Kamaria McDaniel led Penn State with 19 points, while freshman Makenna Marisa followed with 10.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Iowa raced out to a 9-0 lead three minutes into the game to force an early Penn State timeout. The Lady Lions answered with an 11-2 run over the next 4:21 thanks to eight points from McDaniel as Penn State rallied to knot the score at 11-11 with 2:30 left on the first-quarter clock. The Hawkeyes scored four of the final six points of the term to take a 15-13 edge through one.
- Freshman Anna Camden drilled a three-pointer to open the second quarter and junior Alisia Smith followed with a layup as Penn State took its first lead of the game at 18-15 a minute into the term. Iowa answered with the next seven points before McDaniel rattled off five-straight to give PSU a 23-22 edge with 5:36 to play in the first half. Iowa spent the final 5:09 of the half on a 19-2 run, however, to take a 41-25 advantage at the break.
- Iowa opened the second half with five-straight points before Penn State rattled off an 11-4 burst that pulled the Lady Lions within 50-36 three minutes into the third quarter. Penn State wouldn’t get any closer for the remainder of the term though, as the Hawkeyes controlled a 66-46 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
- An Iowa three-pointer opened the fourth quarter to put the Hawkeyes up 69-46. Penn State fought back with a 12-0 streak thanks to baskets from four different Lady Lions, including four points from both Hagans and Camden. Iowa went 0-for-7 from the field during the stretch as Penn State was back within 69-58 with 3:31 to play.
- Iowa scored the next five points before Siyeh Frazier and Marisa drilled back-to-back treys and McDaniel added a free throw to narrow the gap to single digits at 73-65 with 32 seconds left on the clock. Penn State wasn’t able to get any closer, however, as the Hawkeyes went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe down the stretch to seal the 77-66 win.
KEY NOTES
- Penn State finished with a 44-34 rebound advantage.
- Hagans pulled down a career-best nine rebounds. It bested her previous high of seven and marked the first time this season she has led PSU in rebounds.
- Hagans also added a team-best three steals.
- Sophomore Bexley Wallace tied her season high with six points and added a career-high tying five rebounds.
- McDaniel scored in double figures for the 20th time this season.
- Marisa notched her 10th double-digit scoring effort of the season.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Carolyn Kieger
- “I want to start out by staying I’m extremely proud of our underclassmen tonight for the fight they had in that fourth quarter. This young woman right here (Shay Hagans) with nine rebounds and led our team in deflections. I just thought they poured their heart out in the fourth quarter, which is the team we need to be moving forward.”
- “I want to say I’ve had so much respect for Iowa, not only this year but in years past. They share the basketball, they do things the right way, they develop their kids, and Lisa [Bluder] has done a great job with their program and we have to get there.”
- “We have to get to that level of intensity. We have to get to that level of sharing the basketball and we’re taking strides and we’re getting better every day, but that fight that we had in the fourth quarter needs to be the team that we are moving forward.”
- Full Kieger transcript attached
UP NEXT
- Penn State remains home to host Northwestern Sunday at noon.
- The team will welcome back over 40 alumni for Alumni Weekend, including several members of the 2000 Final Four team.