The Penn State women’s basketball team improved to 7-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 at home with a 76-68 victory over Texas Tech in the inaugural Big Ten/Big 12 challenge. The Lady Lions led the entire way and were led by Mia Nickson’s double-double.

Penn State started the game strongly, scoring the first nine points. The Lady Lions kept Texas Tech at arm’s length for the entire half, leading by as many as ten. Penn State went into the break up by seven, with Nickson contributing 14 of her game-high 26 points in the half. Eight of her 14 rebounds also came in the first half.

The Lady Lions played sloppy basketball to start the second half, and Texas Tech capitalized. The seven point lead was quickly erased and the game was tied at 40. The turnovers stopped at this point, and the Lady Lions began to pull away. Texas Tech put up a fight, but Penn State led the rest of the way for the 76-68 win.

Alex Bentley contributed 16 points and eight rebounds in the win, and Maggie Lucas chipped in ten points. This game was about Nickson, though, and her first career double-double.

Next up for Penn State is the second game in a seven-game roadstand against Army. The game will be on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., and members of the military can get in to the game for free with their ID.