Penn State women’s basketball (4-4) fell to Boston College (6-1) 86-69 Thursday night as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Ali Brigham and Mackenna Marisa combined for 32 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, but they were bested by a strong Eagles squad led by Cameron Swartz who finished the night with 29 points and four boards and shot 11-24 from the field.

How It Happened

Cameron Swartz got it going for Boston College with a layup and easy jumper to put them up early. Tova Sobel scored the first bucket for the Lady Lions off of an Eagles’ turnover. Both teams continued to trade baskets as the first period went on.

The three’s then started to fly mid-way through the first quarter. Kaylah Ivey got one going for Boston College. The Lady Lions quickly responded with Kelly Jekot and Shay Hagans each hitting deep ones of their own. However, the Eagles started to find their groove as the quarter ended by going on an 8-2 run within the final three minutes of the quarter. Boston College is up 20-14 to start the second.

Both teams came out explosive to start out the second quarter. Ali Brigham and Mackenna Marisa combined for seven points in just the first two minutes of action for the Lady Lions. Coming off the bench for the Eagles, Ally Vantimmeren hit a few jumpers to bring her point total to eight so far tonight. Swartz and Maria Gakdeng also put some points on the board to extend the lead by double digits for Boston College.

After going scoreless for three minutes, Maddie Burke sank one from beyond the arch to bring Penn State within six. That three started a 7-0 run for Penn State in which Marisa and Leilani Kapinus brought this game within two.

The Eagles finally got a bucket of their own to make this a two-possession game, but Brigham came right back with a lay-up of her own to bring her total to ten tonight. Penn State finished the first half by going on a 9-5 run but still remained down by five going into halftime.

Marnelle Garraud hit one from downtown to start the scoring off for the second half. Beverley answered right back by splashing one from beyond the arc to get it going for the Lady Lions. The Eagles then quickly scored four points. Shortly after, Beverley and Marisa found themselves on a breakaway which ended with Marisa driving to the hoop for an and-one bucket.

Boston College went on a 6-0 run midway through the quarter to give themselves a 12-point lead, the largest of the game so far. Sobel broke the Lady Lions three minute scoreless streak by knocking in a three. Penn State is now shooting 50% from three so far in the second half.

The Eagles caught fire to end the third quarter as they finished the final four minutes on a 16-7 run. Swartz and Garraud combined for twelve of those points, and Boston College went into the fourth quarter with an 18 point lead.

Boston College kept up its dominance to start the fourth quarter as it scored seven points in the first two minutes of action. Kapinus and Swartz began trading buckets midway through the fourth, but the Eagles kept their huge lead intact.

Penn State began to show life with just four minutes to play as Marisa and Brigham put up six points in one minute to bring this game within 15. Despite a last-second three from Beverley, it was too little too late for Penn State.

Takeaways

• Tonight’s matchup with Boston College was the first true test for the Lady Lions. Even with the loss, Boston College is, historically, a great basketball program, and this game was the first glimpse to see how Penn State stacks up against the competition. The answer? Not great.
• After a quiet performance against Kent State in the final game of the Gulf Coast Showcase, Ali Brigham bounced back tonight with 18 points and five boards.
• Cameron Swartz had her best game of the season so far. After averaging just 7.9 points a game and shooting 31% from the field, she came in tonight and dropped 29 points and four rebounds and shot 45.8% from the floor.

What’s Next?

The Lady Lions will head to Bloomington for their first Big Ten matchup of the year against Indiana on Monday, December 6. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.