PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Penn State Lady Lions aren’t done fighting yet. Behind a dominant afternoon from its star duo, the Lady Lions kept their Big Ten Tournament hopes alive with an 87-78 road win over Rutgers on Saturday, snapping a two-game skid and securing a crucial late-season boost.

Freshman guard Kyomi McMiller and sophomore center Gracie Merkle were unstoppable, combining for 63 points as Penn State (10-17, 3-13 Big Ten) overcame a sloppy start and controlled the game’s final 30 minutes. McMiller finished with 33 points and eight assists, while Merkle powered her way to 30 points in the paint, punishing Rutgers’ interior defense possession after possession.

The afternoon began in shaky fashion. Penn State opened with three straight turnovers and struggled to secure defensive rebounds, allowing Rutgers (9-18, 1-15 Big Ten) to jump out to a 6-0 lead. The Scarlet Knights blocked four consecutive shots, and the Lady Lions looked rattled until Tèa Clèante finally broke through with a three-pointer.

Once McMiller and Merkle settled in, the tone shifted. McMiller’s free throws and step-back jumper steadied Penn State, and Merkle’s interior scoring tied the game late in the first quarter. Clèante’s second three gave the Lady Lions their first lead at 21-18, capping a 14-4 run that erased the early deficit.

Rutgers’ Imani Lester kept the Scarlet Knights close with 13 first-half points, but Penn State’s offense found its rhythm. The Lady Lions repeatedly fed Merkle on the block, where she used her size and footwork to create high-percentage looks. McMiller attacked off the dribble and reached 18 points by halftime, helping Penn State take a 38-32 lead into the break.

The second half belonged to Penn State’s shooters. After Rutgers opened with a three, Merkle answered with back-to-back layups, and Moriah Murray added a three of her own. McMiller followed with a deep three and an and-one, pushing the lead to double digits. Three straight Penn State threes forced Rutgers into zone defense, but the Scarlet Knights still had no answer for Merkle inside.

Rutgers made one final push in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to four after a technical foul on Merkle. But Nyla McFadden buried a corner three to halt the run, and McMiller closed the door at the free-throw line. A late deep three from Rutgers’ Kaylah Ivey wasn’t enough to threaten the outcome.

Up Next

Penn State: The Lady Lions return home to play USC at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, at Rec Hall. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.