Penn State women’s basketball (3-2, 0-1) lost a close battle to Purdue (4-2, 1-1) 91-87 Sunday afternoon. Makenna Marisa had a career game and led the team with 26 points.

Kelly Jekot added 14 points, while Johnasia Cash and Anna Camden added 11 points each. However, the Boilermakers’ three-point success became the difference in the game.

How It Happened

The Lady Lions won the opening tip, but they were unable to score on their first offensive possession. After Purdue scored on a long jumper, Johnasia Cash got the scoring started with a layup.

The Boilermakers had a great start to the game, knocking down a three and a midrange shot. Kelly Jekot responded with a layup and a foul, making the free throw and cutting into the deficit.

Penn State couldn’t score in the paint and played sloppy on the offensive side. Jekot was the lone bright spot in the beginning of the first quarter. Compared to Purdue making almost every basket, it seemed like the Lady Lions were in for a long day.

But Makenna Marisa and Jekot hit two threes on back-to-back possessions to bring the Lady Lions to within two points with three minutes left in the first quarter.

Anna Camden made a nice basket but Purdue kept responding with baskets of its own. Shay Hagans ended the first quarter with a breakaway layup, and Penn State entered the second quarter trailing 27-19.

Jekot and Marisa got the scoring started for the Lady Lions in the second quarter. Jekot then followed up with another made basket, with her veteran experience showing off. The problem with all that offense was that Purdue was scoring at the same rate on the other end.

After a timeout, a great defensive stance led to a Sabel layup on the other end. The Lady Lions then forced a shot clock violation to really shift the momentum.

The Boilermakers recovered, though, as they found offensive opportunities and made their open baskets. Sabel slowed that offense down with a couple baskets of her own. There weren’t any baskets after that, though, and Penn State went into halftime trailing 46-39.

After a foul on the defensive end, Camden responded with a three-point shot. On the next possession, Marisa hit another three. Marisa then scored another basket on the next possession, and the Lady Lions were in a groove.

Coming out of a timeout, Thornton, drove into the paint, making the basket and drawing the foul. She made the free throw and all of the sudden the game was tied.

Hagans, who had been relatively quiet all game, got a steal and had back-to-back baskets to give Penn State the first lead of the game. The lead did not last long because the Boilermakers added a midrange basket.

Camden drew a foul right before the third quarter ended, knocking down both free throws and giving the Lady Lions a 68-67 lead.

Marisa got the fourth quarter started with a layup, and led a good defensive stance on the other end. Marisa then scored another basket, extending that lead.

Jekot was able to spark some offense with four minutes left in the game. Hagans then got a quick steal and Camden showed her grit in forcing a jump ball. However, the ball went to Purdue and it hit a three. Cash was able to respond with a basket of her own.

Marisa was able to score on the next office possession, and Thornton drew a charge to change the momentum of the game. Cash was able to knock down a couple free throws to cut the lead to four.

Purdue knocked down two free throws, but Marisa responded with a jump shot. The Lady Lions had a really good defensive stop, but Jekot picked up a foul and the Boilermakers made both free throws.

Marisa wasn’t giving up yet, as she blew by defenders and scored a layup. Hagans got into the paint, but lost the ball. Purdue missed the the layup, and Camden got fouled as she tried to score. She made both of her free throws, and the game was separated by two points.

However, after Penn State fouled, Purdue made both of its free throws and pushed the game out of reach. The Boilermakers won 91-87, despite a career-high 26 points from Makenna Marisa.

Takeaways

• Penn State has to be better on defense. The Lady Lions gave a lot of open looks to Purdue, and that was why it got a lead and never looked back. If this team is going to be competitive in conference play, defense is going. to be a big deal moving forward.
• Makenna Marisa is a star for this Lady Lion team. She is going to be a big piece as this team develops and gets better. Once Kelly Jekot graduates, Marisa is going to have to step up into a leadership role, and she has all of the skills to be successful at it.
• Fans should be extremely happy with how hard this team has fought. After last season, where it seemed like nothing went right, it is a good sign to see how everyone on the team has bought in to the culture of the program. Even in a loss, this team showed what its potential could be.

What’s Next

The Lady Lions will travel to Ann Arbor to take on No. 19 Michigan. They play at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 23.