Penn State women’s basketball (10-5 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) fell 82-72 on the road to No. 14 Michigan (13-2 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) on Tuesday in a tightly contested matchup in Ann Arbor.

Both teams were tied at 57 entering the fourth quarter, but the Wolverines ultimately outlasted the Lady Lions to end Penn State’s two-game win streak.

How It Happened

Head coach Carolyn Kieger opted for Makenna Marisa and Shay Ciezki up front. Meanwhile, Leilani Kapinus, Chanaya Pinto, and Ali Brigham were also in the starting five.

Penn State and Michigan played a very competitive first quarter. The Lady Lions started with the lead, although the Wolverines erased it with runs of six and eight points, respectively. Kieger’s team put an end to Michigan’s lead, going on a 10-0 scoring run to end the first quarter.

At the end of the opening quarter, Penn State led by a slim 21-18.

In the second quarter, Penn State continued to open up the game. Midway through the sequence, Penn State made four consecutive field goals to expand the lead to five. Penn State’s lead would soon be erased, however, as Michigan heated up and scored nine unanswered points to grab a 38-34 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Penn State and Michigan continued battling back and forth, exchanging leads four different times. The quarter ended with the two teams tied at 57, which set up for what one would think would be an ultra-competitive final frame However, it would be the final time the two teams were tied.

The Wolverines came out swinging in the fourth quarter. Michigan couldn’t be stopped offensively, while it limited the Lady Lions’ offensive abilities. Penn State only scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, its lowest of all four quarters. Michigan scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to complete an 82-72 victory at home, handing Penn State its third Big Ten loss this season.

Takeaways

• Freshman Shay Ciezki was outstanding despite the loss, with a career-high 21 points. Ciezki helped keep the game close leading into the fourth quarter and played 39 minutes.
• Although taking down the No. 14-ranked team on the road is tough, Penn State very well could’ve completed the victory. Being tied 57-57 entering the game’s final quarter gave the Lady Lions a legitimate shot to take down the ranked Wolverines squad, but Michigan proved too tough to handle in the end.
• That being said, it’s still a good sign that Penn State played Michigan so close, and it bodes well for Kieger’s program, which already appears much-improved from previous seasons.

What’s Next

Penn State is scheduled to face Purdue at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, at the Bryce Jordan Center.