Penn State Women's Basketball Shines Against Rutgers
In a thrilling showdown at Jersey Mike's Arena, the Penn State Lady Lions secured an 87-78 victory over Rutgers. This win boosts their record to 10-17 overall and 3-13 in the Big Ten, while Rutgers drops to 9-18 and 1-15 in conference play.
Sophomore guard Kiyomi McMiller was nothing short of spectacular, matching her career-high with 37 points. This marks her fifth consecutive game scoring 30 or more, showcasing her offensive prowess.
McMiller also contributed eight assists, five steals, four rebounds, and two blocks, proving to be a versatile force on the court. Redshirt junior center Gracie Merkle was a strong presence as well, adding 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting and leading the team with six rebounds and four assists.
The Lady Lions were firing on all cylinders, achieving their best field-goal percentage of the season at 62.0%. Their 70.0% shooting from beyond the arc was their second-best performance of the year, underscoring their offensive efficiency.
Next up, Penn State will host USC on Wednesday at 6 p.m., aiming to carry this momentum forward.
Score Breakdown:
- Penn State: 21 17 25 24 - 87
- Rutgers: 18 14 21 25 - 78
Key Performances:
- Penn State: McMiller's 37 points and Merkle's 26 points and six rebounds led the charge.
- Rutgers: Ndiaye and Perkins combined for 31 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Penn State's offensive onslaught.
Wagner Holds Off Saint Francis
Over in Staten Island, Wagner managed to maintain an early lead, securing a 58-51 victory over Saint Francis. Shelby Ricks led the Red Flash with 16 points, while Makyiah Ward dominated the boards with 10 rebounds.
Score Breakdown:
- Saint Francis: 12 12 14 13 - 51
- Wagner: 19 13 13 13 - 58
Notable Contributions:
- Saint Francis: Ricks' scoring and Ward's rebounding were pivotal.
- Wagner: Kaci and Doyinsola each contributed 13 points, with Fernandez adding 11.
Penn State Altoona Wraps Regular Season with Win
Penn State Altoona ended their regular season on a high note, defeating Alfred State 69-54 on the road. This victory secures them the No. 3 seed in the AMCC playoffs, where they will host No. 6 seed Hilbert in the quarterfinals.
Avana Sayles and Halle Kuzminski both recorded double-doubles, with Sayles notching 15 points and 19 rebounds, while Kuzminski added 12 points and 13 rebounds. Lanie Wilt led all scorers with 18 points and contributed five assists.
Penn State Altoona's dominant performance, particularly in the first half where they led by as many as 23 points, sets a promising tone for the playoffs.