Penn State’s women’s basketball (8-15, 1-11 Big Ten) claimed its first Big Ten win of the season over Purdue (11-12, 3-9 Big Ten) 85-82 at Mackey Arena on Wednesday night.

The Lady Lions edged it out in overtime behind Kiyomi McMiller’s 30 points. Gracie Merkle added 19 in her return after missing the last two games.

How It Happened

Merkle set the tone for Penn State immediately, opening with a layup and one for an early three points. The Boilermakers countered with back-to-back midrange jumpers before McMiller answered with a pair of her own to give the Lady Lions an early 8-7 lead.

Both teams came out firing from the first media timeout as Purdue drained a three-pointer after Merkle’s traveling violation. Unfazed, Merkle charged right back with another and-one layup.

Purdue’s Lana McCarthey flashed fancy footwork, hooking home a shot at the rim.  Tèa Clèante fired back with a 3-pointer to knot it at 13-13. After a well-executed pick-and-roll by Purdue, Merkle flew down the court with seven seconds to go, laying a ball in, handing the Lady Lions an 18-15 lead heading into the second.

Purdue darted out with a 3-point play of their own and a blazing shot from behind the arc for a quick 6-0 run to pull ahead 20-18. Penn State responded defensively by returning to a full-court press, sparking fast offense from McMiller inside the perimeter. But the Boilermakers would hit back harder with a triple, forcing a Lady Lions timeout with the game at 27-24.

Cheap fouls would plague both teams midway through the second quarter, sending both to the free-throw line on consecutive possessions. Both sides would miss a free throw before Purdue’s elbow jumper nudged them ahead.

The Lady Lions refused to fade; a flurry of layups and midrange jumpers would lead Penn State to a 34-32 lead with 1:50 to go in the half. McMiller sealed the half at the free-throw line, finishing with 16 first-half points and a 36-34 Penn State lead.

Merkle would shine again, drawing back-to-back fouls and sinking a free throw, but Penn State’s eighth turnover fueled a Boilermaker three-point play. Merkle and McMiller took over inside with quick layups, though Purdue would claw back again off another steal to make it 41-39 at the media timeout.

Purdue crept within a point before the duo erupted again. Merkle and McMillar combined for a barrage of buckets to push Penn State ahead 46-41. The Boilermakers countered with a mid-range jumper and bonus free throws to trim it to one before a Moriah Murray clutch three-pointer restored a 50-46 lead.

Cheap fouls sent Purdue to the line repeatedly, and a full-court trap sparked another Penn State turnover to tie the game. With 0.4 seconds left, bonus free throws capped a 10-3 run, handing Purdue a 52-50 lead into the fourth.

Viktoria Ranisavljevic’s free throws would open the fourth, and a Merkle layup reclaimed a 54-52 Penn State lead. McMiller’s block would hold it at two before Purdue would tie it back up. Murray would add another three and put the Lady Lions back ahead until Purdue’s three-point play forced a timeout.

A backcourt violation would not slow Penn State, as Murray drained a 3 once again, and Clèante sank free throws to give Penn State a 62-59 edge. The Boilermakers answered with quick buckets off turnovers, Penn State’s 18th, to retake the lead at 65-64.

A Ranisavljevic bucket, Clèante top-of-the-key 3, and two McMiller free throws would set the game at 73-67. But Purdue would not die; they would storm back with a Kiki Smith 3, cutting the lead to two.

McMiller would be sent to the line with 10.5 seconds to go after a quick foul. But McMiller would leave the first at the line, which would come back to haunt the Lady Lions. Purdue rushed down the court, and a last-second heave behind the arc would hit and force overtime at 74-74.

Penn State won the overtime tip but stumbled with a three-second violation, handing Purdue possession. The Lady Lions countered with a defensive stand and a corner 3 from Nyla McFadden, though the Boilermakers quickly answered with an acrobatic and-one to tie it at 77 apiece.

With a sudden frantic pace, Purdue hit one of two free throws, Merkle matched with one of her own, then Moriah Murray again drained a massive corner 3 off a deflection for an 81-78 lead with 36.5 seconds left. McMiller would be sent back to the line after Purdue left one at the line, but this time McMiller would stretch it to four at 83-79 with 24.7 seconds to go.

The Boilermakers would not die, adding another and-one for 83-82, but the Lady Lions did not stumble again. Ranisavljevic sank two free throws with 16 seconds left, and Purdue’s final two 3-point misses sealed the Lady Lions’ first conference win with an 85-82 win over the Boilermakers.

Takeaways

• Kiyomi McMiller scored 30 points, while Gracie Merkle added 19 of her own in a return from a two-game absence. The duo combined for 49 points, powering Penn State to its first conference win.
• Penn State’s 20 turnovers fueled Purdue’s comebacks. The giveaways nearly cost the Lady Lions in the end.
• Viktoria Ranisavljevic and Kiyomi McMiller went 6-for-6 at the line in overtime, icing the 85-82 victory. Penn State’s composure after a 4th quarter mishap proved the difference in the finish.

What’s Next?

The Lady Lions are set to return to Rec Hall for a matchup against Michigan State on Saturday, February 7, at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.