WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Penn State women's basketball team out-scored Purdue 64-44 in the final 25 minutes to grab a big 80-70 road win against the Boilermakers Sunday afternoon in Big Ten action at Mackey Arena.
The Lady Lions collect their third-straight road win and earn their first road victory in Mackey Arena since Feb. 8, 2015. Penn State trailed by as much as 11 mid-way through the second quarter, but a strong close to the second term and dominant second half led PSU to victory.
Senior Johnasia Cash had another monster effort with a career-best 28 points in addition to 12 rebounds. It marked her third-straight double-double and fifth in the last six games. She is the first Penn State player to record double-doubles in three-straight games since 2007.
Niya Beverley added a season high-tying 14 points in addition to a game-high seven assists. Anna Camden recorded her second-straight double-digit game with 12 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Penn State's offense took a bit to find its rhythm as the Boilermakers took a quick 10-2 lead to force a Penn State timeout 4:05 into the game. Six points from Cash helped Penn State score six of the next eight to pull the Lady Lions within four at 12-8 with 2:57 left in the first quarter. The Boilermakers closed the term on a 7-1 streak as Penn State shot just 25 percent from the field in the opening quarter and Purdue took a 19-9 lead to the second.
- Purdue eventually stretched its lead to as much as 11 at 26-15 with 5:27 left on the first half clock. Penn State turned it up a notch as four points from Cash sparked a 17-6 Lady Lions run to close the half. Cash scored six points during the stretch, while Camden and Maddie Burke hit back-to-back three-pointers and Shay Hagans capped the half with a pair of free throws as Penn State erased the 11-point deficit to even the score at 32-all.
- The teams exchanged baskets in the first six minutes of the third quarter before a Beverley layup was followed by Burke's second three-pointer of the day which forced a Purdue timeout at the 2:52 mark as Penn State jumped ahead 51-48.
- Penn State held Purdue two just two points in the final 3:40 of the third quarter as Burke added another three-pointer and Beverley beat the buzzer with a trey that gave the Lady Lions a 57-50 edge heading into the final quarter.
- The Lady Lions kept the pedal to the metal in the fourth quarter as Penn State spent the first five minutes on an 18-4 run. Cash scored eight during the stretch, while back-to-back three-pointers from Beverley and Hagans capped the run and Penn State took a 19-point lead at 75-56 with 4:45 to play.
- Purdue wouldn't get within single digits the rest of the way as Penn State kept firing on all cylinders to grab the 80-70 road win.
KEY NOTES
- The Lady Lions have won their last three road games and will head home to Happy Valley 2-0 after a five-day trip to Illinois and Purdue.
- Penn State earned its first win in Mackey Arena since Feb. 8, 2015.
- Cash becomes the first Penn State player to record double-doubles in three-straight games since Amanda Brown did so in 2007.
- Cash has notched double-doubles in five of her last six games.
- Beverley tied her season high with 14 points. It marks her second double-digit scoring game of the season.
- In the last three games, Beverley has dished 18 assists with just two turnovers.
- Camden recorded her fourth double-digit effort of her sophomore campaign.
- Freshman Nan Garcia scored her first career points at the 7:02 mark of the second quarter.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Carolyn Kieger
- "Second game in a row that we've kept our composure and we've fought back. I'm extremely proud of everyone and this is a total team win from top to bottom. Everybody contributed, everyone was focused, and everyone was 'we above me'."
- On Johnasia Cash: "Cash has been a woman on a mission lately. Our team has done a great job finding her and her second jump has been phenomenal on rebounds. She's just playing within herself and letting the game come to her and being very successful with that. I think our team has really started to learn how to play together, and we've been passing the ball really well which I think has allowed her to have a lot of success in the paint. When she plays like that she's very hard to guard and hard to stop on the boards."
- On Niya Beverley: "Niya's presence has been huge. We've been working with her on directing and commanding the offense as she continues to learn what we want and push pace. She had some sweet assists in transition tonight for shooters and had her head up and she's been a huge difference maker for us."
UP NEXT
- Penn State returns home for its next two games, beginning with a Thursday night contest against Nebraska. Tipoff from the Bryce Jordan Center is set for 6 p.m.