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Penn State’s offense runs wild in fourth-straight win

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women’s basketball team scored its most points against a Big Ten opponent in nearly 20 years Sunday afternoon as the Lady Lions picked up their fourth-straight win with a dominant 98-74 victory against Wisconsin in Big Ten action at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Lady Lions have won their last four games, the longest active win streak of any of the Big Ten women’s basketball teams, and five of their last seven contests.

Penn State’s 98 points were the most against a Big Ten opponent since the Lady Lions hung 101 on Illinois on Feb. 15, 2001. Penn State finished with a season-high 26 assists compared to just three turnovers. The three turnovers are a Penn State record low inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

Five different Lady Lions finished in double figures with sophomore Makenna Marisa leading the way with 20 points. Senior Johnasia Cash tallied 18, freshman Maddie Burke had 15, sophomore Anna Camden finished with a career high-tying 14, while sophomore Shay Hagans added 11.

HOW IT HAPPENED

A back-and-forth first quarter had Penn State ahead 10-9 four minutes in before four points from Cash opened a 9-4 stretch that was capped by a Camden three-pointer that gave the Lady Lions a 19-13 edge with 1:54 left in the term. The Badgers clawed back in the final two minutes, but Penn State took a 21-19 lead into the second.

A trio of Lady Lion three-pointers and a Tova Sabel steal and score comprised an 11-4 Penn State run to open the second quarter that forced Wisconsin to call a timeout just over three minutes into the term as Penn State took a 32-23 lead. The Badgers fought back within three at 39-36 with 1:52 left on the first-half clock, but four points from Camden and two from Sabel helped PSU close the half on a 6-0 streak to take a 45-36 lead into the break.

The Badgers once again clawed back in the opening minutes of the third quarter, pulling within six at 55-49 with 4:56 left on the clock. It was all Penn State the rest of the way though, as the Lady Lions shot 7-for-11 from the field and 3-for-4 from deep in the final five minutes of the term to put together a 17-5 run. Cash and former Badger herself Niya Beverley scored six each to lead the way during the stretch as Penn State finished the third quarter out-scoring the Badgers 27-18 to take a 72-54 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Burke drilled a trio of three-pointers in the fourth quarter and the Penn State offense kept rolling as the Lady Lions out-scored the Badgers 26-20 in the final term to claim the 98-74 victory.

KEY NOTES

Penn State’s season-high 98 points are the most against a Big Ten opponent since Feb. 15, 2001 when PSU scored 101 against Illinois.

The 98 points are the most for Penn State overall since scoring 106 against Saint Peter’s on Nov. 13, 2016.

Penn State’s three turnovers are the fewest turnovers the Lady Lions have ever committed in a single game inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State has turned the ball over 10 times or less in each of the last four games. The Lady Lions are 4-0 in that stretch.

Penn State’s 26 assists mark a season high.

Penn State had five players in double-figures for the second time this season.

Penn State scored 37 points off 22 Wisconsin turnovers. The Lady Lions held a massive 37-4 advantage in points scored off turnovers.

The Lady Lions also held a major edge in fast-break points, finishing the game with a 33-8 edge in that category.

Marisa notched her fifth 20-plus point performance of the season. She finished with a team-best six assists.

Senior Niya Beverley, who was playing against her former team Wisconsin, finished with five assists and no turnovers. She has dished 26 assists with just two turnovers in the last five games.

Camden tied her career high with 14 points.

Freshman Nan Garcia grabbed a team high-tying and career-high five rebounds.

Burke notched her fourth-straight game with three or more three-pointers. She finished 5-for-8 from deep against the Badgers and added a team high-tying five rebounds.

Hagans finished in double figures for the fifth time this season.

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