In its eighth non-conference matchup of the season, Penn State women’s basketball (7-1) bested Radford (2-6) 97-47. The win was the Lady Lions’ second in a row after losing to No. 6 USC.

In the dominant home win, Makenna Marisa accounted for 24 points and five assists. The Lady Lions had five players in double digits to contribute to the victory.

How It Happened

Coming off strong from winning the tip, Ali Brigham banked in a second-chance shot and put Penn State on the board early. The Lady Lions quickly regained control of the ball after forcing a shot clock turnover from the Highlanders. Makenna Marisa sunk in a three-point jumper after many failed scoring attempts from the Radford starting five.

Soon after, Leilani Kapinus got her own rebound and put up an easy layup for Penn State, bringing the score to 7-0, Penn State. Brigham owned the inside of the lane once again and put up another two, forcing a timeout from Bradford with 7:17 left to play in the first quarter.

MAKENNA MARISA from deep

9-0 run for the Lady Lion run pic.twitter.com/X14IacfMzB

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) November 29, 2023

Penn State entered into a press defense coming off of the timeout, forcing yet another Radford turnover. Shay Ciezki took a charge on the defensive end, bringing the energy up in the Bryce Jordan Center. Fresh off the bench, Kylie Lavelle sunk a jumper to make the score 11-0.

Taylor Valladay put four points on the board with two free throws and a layup off of a Radford turnover. Radford had still yet to produce any shots, or even possess the ball for an extended period of time on their side of the court five minutes into the game.

HEAT CHECK

15 unanswered points for the Lady Lions

Call it a HOT STREAK pic.twitter.com/OojKwdVBKS

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) November 29, 2023

Terissa Lavoile-Brice broke the scoring drought for Radford with a foul shot, quickly answered by two free throws of her own from Valladay. Following a series of turnovers on both sides of the floor, Moriah Murray sunk in a three-pointer, 22-3 Penn State.

Grace Hall turns defense into offense AND give her the assist

That's THREE for Moriah Murray pic.twitter.com/XuiizRtK5H

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) November 29, 2023

Off of a beautiful assist from Marissa, Valladay put up another two points. Marissa added another three to the board, widening the scoring margin to 29-3 with about a minute left to play in the first quarter.

Pa’Shence Traylor-Walker swished a three in for Radford, but Penn State stalled for the last shot of the quarter with an effortless backhanded layup from Kapinus, threaded by Marisa.

To end the quarter pic.twitter.com/Ktd3iLHMgf

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) November 29, 2023

The first quarter came to a close with Penn State in the lead, 32-6.

Penn State had the ball to start the second quarter, as Marisa drained a layup on the next possession. Pa’Shence Traylor-Walker answered with a shot from the paint, but Marisa responded right back with another turnaround jumper.

Off of a fast break, Marisa found Ciezki for an and-one layup. Ciezki swished the free throw in bringing the score to 43-9.

AND-ONE for @shay_ciezki #LionMentality pic.twitter.com/5N7JyHTQAj

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) November 29, 2023

Pa’Shence Traylor-Walker remained the single dominant force for the Radford offense and added another three to the scorebook. Any attempt from Radford to get a streak going was quickly denied when Ciezkoi sunk in another shot from the three-point arc.

Lavoile-Brice secured a layup with around five minutes to play in the second quarter. Ashlyn Traylor-Walker put up her first two points of the game moments later, and the score stood at 46-16, Penn State.

After a series of back-and-forth rebounds from both teams, Kapinus swished in a three from the side.

OKAY, LEI @leilani_kapinus with 3⃣!#LionMentality pic.twitter.com/yktZ5l16ex

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) November 29, 2023

Ashlyn Traylor-Walker added a jumper from the paint to make the score 49-20. Quick off the next rebound, Marisa put up an easy layup moments later. Continuing with the theme of fast break defense to offense, Kapinus moved swiftly down the court and threw up another layup.

Ellie Taylor got the last shot of the quarter for Radford and the teams entered the half with the score at 55-22.

Brigham racked up the first points of the third quarter for Penn State two minutes into play. Taniya Banner quickly responded with a layup on the Ramrod offensive end. Off of her own rebound, Tanner went up again for another two.

Moriah Murray, coming in hot off of an offensive rebound, secured a layup for the Lady Lions. Tanner raked in her eighth point of the game on a second-chance layup. A media timeout called the game to a pause, 59-28 with 4:59 left to play in the third.

Chanaya Pinto came out fierce from the timeout and stole the ball from the Highlanders. This resulted in an effortless three from Marisa, her third of the night.

SOARIN', FLYIN' 3 for @makenna_marisa puts her at 17 points so far tonight! #LionMentality pic.twitter.com/Ur1ZXPGH3t

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) November 30, 2023

Lavelle tallied another layup for the Lady Lions, elongating the gap to 64-28, Penn State. Radford’s Joi Wiliams got her first two points of the game from the free throw line. Seconds later, Murray scored off of a pass from Marisa as she sunk a three.

Off of an inbounds play, Marisa continued to assert her dominance and put up a mid-range jumper. Grace Hall went in for a lethal block on the Radford offense, but they answered on the next possession with a layup from Lavoile-Brice.

Marisa put up yet another three with less than a minute to go for the Lady Lions. Ashlyn Traylor-Walker countered with a layup and free throw as the clock ticked down on the third quarter.

The third quarter finished with the Lady Lions up almost 40 points over the Highlanders, 72-34.

Two free throws from Ashlyn Traylor-Walker started the fourth quarter strong for the Highlanders. Jayla Oden tallied her first points of the night with a three early on as well. Ciezki countered a jumper from Ashlyn Traylor-Walker that brought the score to 78-38.

Starting off the 3rd with a BANG @JaylaOden#LionMentality pic.twitter.com/t0HKeQfMc8

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) November 30, 2023

Ashlyn Traylor-Walker got one in over Marisa’s head, but Ciezki responded with a hard drive to the basket for a Penn State layup.

Kapinus put up another signature backhanded layup to make the score 82-40. Off of a steal, Radford’s Bria Beverly got a jumper on the board. Marisa answered seconds later from down low with a reverse layup.

TAY LEI#LionMentality pic.twitter.com/ZnqUtzeEMv

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) November 30, 2023

Kapinus owned the middle of the floor and sunk a second-chance layup off of her own rebound. Another media timeout stopped play with 4:07 remaining in regulation.

Trying to not back down, Maci Rhoades sunk a three for Radford. The momentum is quickly combated by a three from Murray to widen the gap to 91-45. Oden produced a mid-range jumper and a layup with under two minutes to play.

After a little more back-and-forth action, the fourth quarter finally came to a close and the Lady Lions secured the victory, 97-47.

Takeaways

• Penn State remained tenacious on the defensive end all throughout the first quarter. With the help of limited successful shots from the Radford offense, the Lady Lion defense forced turnovers left and right. The use of their quick press defense sometimes even prevented the Highlanders from getting the ball across half-court efficiently. The Lady Lions came out ready to win, and this strong first quarter was one of the key factors in tonight’s win.
• With Valladay and Marisa in double digits after the first quarter and continuing to produce in the second quarter, the two were a force to be reckoned with. Kapinus and Brigham had a huge rebounding night which led to a number of second-chance shots for the Lady Lions.
• As expected with such a huge lead, head coach Carolyn Kieger did a solid job of utilizing her bench to get them some minutes. Eager to represent, then bench combined for a total of 35 points.
• The Lady Lions had another night of high scoring. While they faced a weaker opponent, thei shot percentage still came in at 57% on the night.

What’s Next?

The Lady Lions will travel to West Virginia University on Monday, December 4. The game will tip-off at 6 p.m. and can be found on ESPN+.