McDaniel’s 40-Point Game Leads Penn State to 78-73 Win Over PittMcDaniel’s 40-Point Game Leads Penn State to 78-73 Win Over Pitt
Craig Houtz

McDaniel’s 40-Point Game Leads Penn State to 78-73 Win Over Pitt

Box Score

Postgame Quotes: Head Coach Carolyn Kieger | Junior Kamaria McDaniel
 
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's basketball junior Kamaria McDaniel recorded the third 40-point game in school history to lead the Lady Lions to a 78-73 win over Pittsburgh in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Thursday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.
 
McDaniel's 40 points marked a Penn State record in the Bryce Jordan Center and she became the first Lady Lion to put up 40-plus points in a game since former All-American Kelly Mazzante scored a school-record 49 points at Minnesota on Dec. 28, 2001.  
 


 


 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • A three-point play from McDaniel and jumper from freshman Makenna Marisa turned a 7-6 deficit into an 11-7 Penn State lead seven minutes into the game. Pitt scored the final four points of the opening term, however, to knot the score at 11 through one stanza.
  • Penn State held a slim 19-17 lead five minutes into the second quarter. McDaniel came to life in the final minutes of the half as she scored 13 points in a 3:54 span to help Penn State close the first half on a 15-5 run and take a 34-22 lead into halftime. Penn State shot 53.3 percent (8-for-15) from the field in the second quarter, while McDaniel was 6-for-9 from the floor.
  • Five points from freshman Anna Camden helped Penn State score seven of the first 11 points of the third quarter to put the PSU lead at 41-26 three minutes in.
  • Penn State's advantage reached as much as 18 at 51-33 after five-straight McDaniel points, with 3:25 to play in the third quarter. Pitt answered with a 10-0 run over the final three minutes of the term to pull within 53-45 heading into the fourth quarter.
  • The Panthers drilled a three to open the final quarter and trim the PSU lead to five at 53-48. McDaniel and Frazier stepped up with an answer for Penn State as an 11-3 Lady Lion run over the next 1:44 had PSU back ahead by double digits at 64-51 with just under seven minutes to play.
  • Pitt made it interesting down the stretch as the Panthers pulled back within 73-67 with 1:29 to play. Penn State went 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds, however, to seal the 78-73 victory.

 
KEY NOTES

  • McDaniel's 40 points puts her in an elite company. The two other 40-plus point efforts came from Kelly Mazzante (49 at Minnesota, 12/28/01) and Jen Bednarek (42 vs. Syracuse, 1/31/79).
  • McDaniel's 40-point effort is the first 40-point game recorded by a Lady Lion player inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
  • McDaniel shot 50 percent (14-for-28) from the floor and was 10-for-15 from the free throw line. She bested her previous career high of 27 points that was set just a game ago against N.C. Central.
  • Penn State won its Big Ten/ACC Challenge game for the third time in the last four years.
  • The Lady Lions earn their fourth-straight win against Pitt and move to 19-1 all-time when playing Pitt at home. Penn State now leads the all-time series, 30-13.
  • Frazier also finished in double figures, tallying 11 points to go along with eight rebounds.
  • Junior Alisia Smith finished with a team-best nine rebounds, while Frazier dished a squad-high three assists.
  • Marisa finished with a career-best seven rebounds.

 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Carolyn Kieger

  • "I thought our team absolutely got better tonight. We obviously have to fix our second half and our third quarter, but overall, I am pleased with our execution tonight."
  • "Kamaria with the 40-point game, it's unbelievable. Third in program history. I don't think there is a team in the country that can stop her when she plays at that pace with the ball in her hands. It was something special to watch so kudos to her and the team for finding her and sharing the ball in the way that they did. Can't say enough about Kamaria in the way that she is learning and adjusting and really latching on to teaching and the way that she has been growing. It is very impressive."
  • Full Kieger transcript

 
UP NEXT

  • Penn State will have a nine-day layoff from game action before the Lady Lions hit the road to take on Princeton on Dec. 14 at 3 p.m.