Penn State women’s basketball (12-5, 3-3 Big Ten) beat Purdue (9-7, 2-3 Big Ten) 80-67 Thursday night to win the fifth of its last seven games.

The Lady Lions were led by guard combo Ashley Owusu and Tay Valladay and their overall defensive unit to take down the Boilermakers.

How It Happened

Prior to the annual THON game getting underway, folks stood to applaud head coach Carolyn Kieger and the Lady Lions after they reached 1,000 program wins against Rutgers this past Sunday. Then, there was a moment of silence to honor those impacted by childhood cancer.

Penn State started the game with the ball, but after fighting off a couple of defenders, Ali Brigham couldn’t connect on a layup. On the other end, Mary Ashley Stevenson made both free throws after being fouled.

Leilani Kapinus found a cutting Brigham who dropped in a reverse layup to tie the game at 2-2 early.

Ashley Owusu, in just her second appearance this season, drilled a step-back jumper from the left wing to get the fans energized. After a couple of turnovers and a missed shot by Purdue’s Madison Layden, Tay Valladay drove to the bucket and got fouled before making the foul shots.

Alli Campbell hit nothing but the net on a corner triple to extend Penn State’s lead to 9-4. Owusu was still feeling it after her first step back, and she did the same move to create separation from her defender and hit a two-point jumper before the game’s first media timeout with the Lady Lions leading 11-6.

Rashunda Jones tear-dropped in a floater out of the timeout, but Makenna Marisa had an answer within seconds as she got to the paint and scored.

After going back and forth for a few more minutes, Alaina Harper showed off her footwork in the post and scored from the block to tie the game at 16-16. Valladay got Penn State the lead right back with 22 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, and it came to a close with Penn State leading 18-16.

Immediately out of the break, Jones split a pair of free throws to cut the Lady Lions’ lead to one. However, Marisa bounced a pass inside to Brigham for an easy layup, then Shay Ciezki was hit on a shot attempt, and she went two-for-two at the stripe, making it 22-17.

Ciezki drove baseline before slinging a pass to a wide-open Valladay for a corner triple, and the media timeout came with the Lady Lions up 28-21.

GOING… GOING… gone. #LionMentality | @forevertay3 pic.twitter.com/Pr4PLp4530

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) January 19, 2024

After the break, with the shot clock winding down, Moriah Murray hit a three. Seconds after, Purdue had trouble getting the ball across half-court, and Kapinus took it away and found Valladay for the layup, extending Penn State’s lead to 12.

The Boilermakers continued to fight, especially down low, getting two straight easy chances in the paint.

As the first half winded down, both teams struggled to make a shot, and the Lady Lions went into the locker room with a 37-27 lead after outscoring Purdue 19-11 in the second quarter.

Owusu and Ciezki each knocked down a jump shot to open the second half, and Penn State quickly had its largest lead of the game at 15.

Let it fly, @shay_ciezki! #LionMentality pic.twitter.com/q1ESdWdqlF

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) January 19, 2024

On her way down the lane, Ciezki hit the deck hard, but after a short moment to walk it off decided to stay in the game. Caitlyn Harper was then fouled by Kapinus in the process of scoring, and converted on an and-one to bring Penn State’s lead back down to 10.

The advantage hovered around that mark for the remainder of the third quarter, but after only being a threat outside for most of the game, Owusu showed off her physicality by backing her defender down to the block and banking in a turn-around five-footer to make it 53-39.

Valladay hit her second corner three and Chanaya Pinto put in a fast break layup just before the clock hit zero, and the Lady Lions entered the fourth quarter on top 58-40.

After the break, Valladay sliced her way through several Boilermakers on her way to the rim for a lay-in. Trying to respond with one of her own, Stevenson was rejected by Owusu, and Valladay looped around the paint to get right back inside for two more, making the score 62-40. Purdue’s trouble continued, turning the ball over on a five-second call trying to inbound.

Owusu went right back to work, this time drilling a turn-around baseline jumper while fading away, giving her 15 points on the night with just over eight minutes remaining.

Puttin' her spin on it! @Ashleyyowusu15#LionMentality | @sportscenter pic.twitter.com/UsFsihc8Ja

— Penn State Women's Basketball (@PennStateWBB) January 19, 2024

Despite being down big, the Boilermakers didn’t go anywhere. Harper converted on a couple of and-ones, the Boilermakers forced a turnover, Jayla Smith hit a left-wing three, and Jones made two free throws to trim Penn State’s lead to 12.

Valladay continued to torch the Purdue defense, getting her point total up to 20 with 2:51 to play.

Some free throws were made by both teams down the stretch, and the Lady Lions won by a final score of 80-67.

Takeaways

• The Lady Lions responded well to a first half rebounding issue. In the first half, they were outrebounded 20-14 and gave up five offensive rebounds, but in the end, won the battle on the glass 36-35.
• Makenna Marisa entered the game needing 20 points to reach 2,000 on her career, but only scored two tonight. Tay Valladay and Ashley Owusu combined for 41 points to pick it up in the backcourt.
• In just her second game back from injury, Owusu shot lights out, going 7-for-15 from the field and scoring 19 points.
• A large number of students showed up to the Bryce Jordan Center and brought the noise for this matchup, including members of the women’s track and field team, softball team, and men’s basketball team.

What’s Next?

The Lady Lions return to the Bryce Jordan Center to face Nebraska at 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 21. The game will be broadcast on BTN+.