UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State hosted its 19th annual Play 4 Kay game benefitting Pink Zone with a combined 1620 years, nine months and 15 days of survivorship between all of the survivors in attendance that were honored in a halftime recognition. The Lady Lions dropped a 75-68 final score to Wisconsin on Sunday, Feb. 16. Penn State moves to 10-16, 1-14 Big Ten while Wisconsin improves to 12-14, 3-12 Big Ten.
Redshirt sophomore Gracie Merkle led all scorers with 28 points, marking her sixth consecutive game reaching double figure scoring and 10th game scoring 20-or-more points using 13-of-17 shooting from the field. Merkle also produced her third-straight double-double grabbing 12 rebounds. Graduate Gabby Elliott also recorded double digit scoring for the sixth game in a row, notching 12 points while compiling five rebounds and four assists. In her third start as a Lady Lion, Vitoria Santana posted a personal best nine points, all coming from beyond the arc. She also totaled four rebounds and three assists.
As a team, the Lady Lions strung together wins in several categories. In the paint, PSU outscored Wisconsin by a 38-28 margin. Penn State was also dominant on the glass, outrebounding the Badgers by a 35-30 margin and converted on its second chance opportunities by a 18-11 clip.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Elliott got the scoring started with a midrange jumper after the Lady Lions won the opening tip off. A stop on defense allowed Penn State to string together back-to-back points before Wisconsin put its first on the board in consecutive fashion. Santana drained the first three of the game off a pass from Murray, but the Badgers responded with another two points on the play following. After the teams traded baskets on each end, Wisconsin forced a turnover on defense and notched its first three of the day on the following possession. The team went back and forth in scoring before a stop on defense and a trip to the line allowed PSU to put up consecutive points, tying the score at 15 apiece. The teams both added baskets to boost the score to 17s before the Badgers engaged in a 7-0 run to recapture the lead at 24-17. Grace Hall took a trip to the charity stripe to put up two more points for the Lady Lions. Penn State used a turnover to nail the final basket of the quarter to bring the score to 24-21 after 10 minutes of action.
Second Quarter
The Lady Lions struck first using a basket from Merkle after their press forced a 10 second violation but the Badgers put up five-straight points to maintain their edge. A set of five points for PSU, comprised of another bucket from Merkle and a three pointer from Elliott cut into the lead but Wisconsin responded with two points on its next trip down the court. After a scoreless minute and a half for both teams, Wisconsin added two more points but Shae Steele had the answer on the next play, draining her second shot from long range of the season. The teams continued to trade points with the Lady Lions tying the score and the Badgers pushing out in front. The score was tied at 37-37 heading into the halftime break.
Third Quarter
Merkle scored the first points out of the break once again to give the Lady Lions the lead for the first time since the first quarter, but Wisconsin quickly knotted the score again. The Badgers completed a three-point play to secure a 42-39 lead. Elliott’s downhill drive brought Penn State within one, but Wisconsin once again had the response. Despite a pair of free throws for Merkle, PSU committed a foul on the other end, sending Wisconsin to the line for a three-point play. Out of the media timeout, both teams committed turnovers before Santana hit her second three of the afternoon to cut the margin to a one-point difference. A defensive stop for the Lady Lions allowed them to add another two points to send the lead back in Penn State’s direction at 48-47. Wisconsin finally put points across after a near four-minute scoring drought, adding four connective points. PSU added two points in the final minute, bringing the score to 51-50 after three quarters.
Fourth Quarter
The Badgers started the quarter draining a shot from long range to extend their advantage to four points. A trip to the free throw line added one point for the Lady Lions but Wisconsin immediately responded with another three pointer. Santana hit her third three of the day on the ensuing PSU possession, cutting the margin to three points. On two trips to the line the Badgers made just two-of-four free throws while PSU added two points on its offense end to bring the score to 59-56. Merkle added a put-back bucket to cut the difference to one point into the media timeout. After the break, Wisconsin only made one of its two free throws but managed stops on the following two trips down the court for the Lady Lions, allowing for another two points from the visitors to take a four-point lead. Tamera Johnson stepped to the line for a pair of free shots to cut the deficit to two points with under three minutes to play but a foul on the other end of the court sent the Badgers to the line where they made one of their two shots. Merkle’s put-back shot cut the margin to one but once again Wisconsin had the response on its next trip down the court. Wisconsin added a three-point basket as the final minute of the game approached to extend the score to 68-62. Elliott’s one free throw make narrowed the difference to five points with 58 seconds on the game clock. A late three-point play for Talayah Walker tightened the gap to three points but Wisconsin’s free throw shooting down the stretch was too much to overcome, making the final score 75-68 in favor of Wisconsin.
POSTGAME NOTES
Penn State vs Wisconsin
February 16, 2025
Bryce Jordan Center (University Park, Pa.)
- This game marked the 19th annual Pink Zone game in Lady Lion history. Penn State was the first ever team to host a pink game after a grant from the Big Ten. PSU’s first Pink Zone game was also against Wisconsin.
- This was the 55th meeting between Penn State and Wisconsin
- Merkle scored in double figures for the 21st time this season and sixth time in a row, posting 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting from the field. This also marked her 10th 20-plus-point game of the season. Merkle also notched 12 rebounds, securing her third consecutive double-double and 12th of the season.
- Elliott recorded 12 points, marking her sixth game with 10-or-more points and sixth in a row. She also grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists.
- There were seven lead changes and six tie scores throughout the game.
- The Lady Lions outshot the Badgers 38-28 in the paint and outrebounded Wisconsin by a 35-30 clip.
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