Penn State women’s basketball (8-7, 5-6 Big Ten) took care of the Wisconsin Badgers (4-13, 1-13 Big Ten) 98-74 Sunday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center. It was the Lady Lions’ fourth straight win in conference play. Makenna Marisa led the team with 20 points.

It was a whole team effort for the team Sunday. Johnasia Cash added 18 points, Anna Camden had 14 points, and Shay Hagans had 11 points. Maddie Burke knocked down 15 points off the bench, all of which were threes. The team also had only three turnovers the entire game, which was a huge difference in the afternoon’s outcome.

How It Happened

Wisconsin got the scoring started, but Makenna Marisa scored a second chance layup to tie it up. Marisa then scored again on the next offensive possession. The Lady Lions got back to back steals on defensive possessions, but were only able to score once on a Niya Beverly score.

The Badgers hit a corner three to take the lead, but Anna Camden was able to score in the paint. After another big defensive stop, Johnasia Cash had a beautiful euro step to score. Cash would then score again on the next possession.

Wisconsin was able to get a bit back on track with a basket in the paint, but it couldn’t stop Cash, who pushed her way into the paint to score and draw a foul. She would miss the free throw.

The Lady Lions showed a lot of hustle in the first quarter, as they took a lot of fast break opportunities. Shay Hagans scored a layup on a loose ball fast break, and then Camden hit a fast break three on the next possession.

Wisconsin went on a run in the last minute of the quarter, but Penn State still led after one 21-19.

Hagans got the scoring started for the Lady Lions in the second quarter with a corner three. Wisconsin got a basket in the paint, but Marisa responded with another three-pointer.

After a little bit of a scoreless drought, Maddie Burke hit a wide-open three to extend Penn State’s lead. The defense was tough all game long, especially in the mid-court. This was highlighted when Tova Sabel stole the ball and scored on a fast-break layup.

Wisconsin was able to score coming out of a timeout, but Burke responded with a quick three to shut down any momentum the Badgers may have. Marisa then scored a layup on the next offensive possession.

Nan Garcia scored her first basket of the afternoon, putting up a layup after getting an offensive rebound. That was the last basket Penn State made in a two minute stretch, which allowed Wisconsin to make it a one possession game. Camden broke the scoring drought with a layup, and Sabel followed up with a layup on the next possession.

Camden was able to hit a last second basket to extend the Lady Lions’ lead, and they went into halftime up 45-36.

Marisa starts the third quarter with a midrange jumper and a layup, and Penn State was right back where it started in the first half. Cash got another basket, though it was her first since the first quarter.

Wisconsin went on a run however and the Badgers were within six with a little over five minutes left in the quarter. Camden broke the streak though with a basket in the paint.

Beverly hit a big three following the Badgers’ made free throw attempts. However, Wisconsin responded with a wide open corner three. Cash then put up a powerful layup, and Beverly made another three point basket to extend the lead.

Cash and Marisa also added some points in the paint, and the lead went up to double digits. Cash continued a dominating performance, scoring off of a steal to push the lead.

Camden hit a last second three at the end of the third quarter, and the Lady Lions ended the quarter with a 72-54 lead.

The Lady Lions got off to a slow start in the fourth quarter, with their only points through the first three minutes of the game being Marisa’s free throws. That changed after Marisa and Hagans made back to back layups.

Burke then made a big time three, then Hagans scored off of a steal, and then made both free throws. Burke then made another three point shot, and all of her shots came off three pointers.

Both teams were exchanging threes before Garcia got a nice look within the paint. As the game winded down, Nia Staples hit a big three that made the bench erupt. Staples hasn’t played much this season, and this was her seventh point of the season.

The Lady Lions would wrap up this game with Garcia making one of two free throws from the line, and would win 98-74.

Takeaways

• The Lady Lions defense is a huge advantage. They forced 11 turnovers in the first half alone, and a lot of those came in the mid-court. It was a great display of how defense creates offense and that allowed Penn State to take a big lead.
• This is also a very unselfish team. There were multiple possessions where all five players touched the ball on offense, and they had 13 assists in the first half. That kind of play shows how far this team has improved and how everyone has bought in to coach Carolyn Kieger and her style of play.
• It seems like every player knows their role and does it extremely well. Maddie Burke being as a three-point specialist, Johnasia Cash as a monster in the paint, Makenna Marisa and Anna Camden as the leaders of the team. The Lady Lions are proving to be a well-oiled machine on this winning streak.

What’s Next

The Lady Lions travel to No. 17 Indiana on Wednesday, February 10. The game will tip off at 4 p.m. and air on the Big Ten Network.