WEST LAFAYETTE Ind. – Penn State women’s basketball secures 85-82 overtime victory over Purdue inside Mackey Arena on Wednesday night. The Lady Lions improve to 8-15, 1-11 Big Ten) while the Boilermakers fall to 11-12, 3-9 Big Ten. In a contest that saw 14 lead changes and 13 tie scores, four double figure scorers lifted Penn State to its first overtime win of the season.
Sophomore guard Kiyomi McMiller lead the offensive charge for Penn State with her 22nd double figure scoring outing of the season, posting 30 points in addition to nine assists and five rebounds. Redshirt junior center Gracie Merkle posted her 20th double figure scoring outing of the campaign after missing two games. She added 19 points on six-of-seven shooting from the floor in addition to seven-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe. The 6-6 center also recorded a season high 20 rebounds, marking her seventh double-double of the season. Redshirt junior guard Moriah Murray compiled 15 points all from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Tèa Clèante rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points.
As a team, the Lady Lions outshot the Boilermakers from the floor, posting 51.9% shooting. Penn State dominated the glass by a 42-34 margin.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Merkle made her return known on the opening possession for the Lady Lions, converting a three-point play. After each team missed an offensive opportunity, Purdue found its first basket of the contest. The Boilermakers added two more points before McMiller drained a pair of jumpers to extend the PSU lead to 7-4 at the 5:24 mark. Purdue added seven-straight points to rally above the Lady Lions. Another three-point conversion for Merkle cut the PSU deficit to one point, but the Boilermakers had the response on their offensive end. Clèante sank a shot from three-point range to knot the score at 13-13. McMiller was the next to step beyond the perimeter and drain a three-pointer to take a three-point lead. Each team added two points to close out the first stanza with the Lady Lions ahead 18-15.
Second Quarter
Purdue used an opportunity at the charity stripe to cut the margin to one point before hitting a shot from long range to recapture the lead. Two free throws from Merkle tied the score at 20 even. The teams traded baskets to keep the score knotted on back-to-back offensive possessions. A three-pointer and a shot from the charity stripe gave the home team a four-point edge at the 6:22 mark. McMiller only converted one of her free throws to cut the deficit to three before Purdue added a jumper to extend to a five-point advantage. Clèante drove hard to the rim for her next points, decreasing the margin back to three and McMiller used an offensive rebound to pull the Lady Lions within one. Another mid-range jumper for McMiller capped off a six-point run for PSU while retaking the lead for her squad at 31-30. The Boilermakers reclaimed their lead with a set of points at the two-minute mark before the Lady Lions did the same on their next possession using a long three from Murray. Purdue knotted the score at 34-34, but McMiller used a duo of free shots to create a two-point margin at the halftime break with Penn State up 36-34
Third Quarter
A trip to the free throw line for Merkle allowed the Lady Lions to extend their lead by one after only making one of her two shots. The Boilermakers converted a three-point play to tie the score at 37-37. PSU added four-straight points out of the hands of Merkle and McMiller to extend to a four-point lead. Purdue put up a basket to threaten before a series of missed opportunities for both teams. McMiller only made one of her free throws out of the media timeout, but PSU still held the advantage. Purdue utilized a miscue from Penn State to convert a set of points, but Merkle added points to the Lady Lions lead on her next trip down the court. McMiller notched a basket following a defensive stop to create a five-point margin at the 3:48 mark. Each team took a trip to the charity stripe where Purdue made one-of-two and Merkle replicated. Purdue compiled four unanswered points to draw the score to 47-46. Murray drained her second three of the contest to widen the gap to four, but six-straight points for the Boilermakers sent the lead back to the home team at the end of the third quarter. Purdue led 52-50 after 30 minutes of game action.
Fourth Quarter
Viktoria Ranisavljevic converted both of her free throw opportunities to open the final stanza. McMiller found Merkle under the rim to reclaim the lead for the Lady Lions. Purdue leveled the score at 54-54, but Murray netted her third three-pointer of the night to create a three-point margin. The advantage was erased following a three-point play for the Boilermakers. A three-pointer from Murray grew the lead back to three. The squads traded trips to the charity stripe where all free throws were converted to steady the margin at three points. McMiller added a basket under the rim before Purdue found six-straight points to take a one-point lead with just under three minutes to play. McMiller and Clèante both drained shots from long range to recapture the lead for PSU. McMiller drove hard to the rim following a set of PSU points to produce a four-point gap. Purdue only made one of its free throws to make it a three-point game. McMiller took a trip to the charity stripe where she netted both shots, giving Penn State a 72-68 edge at the :27 mark. Purdue answered with a three-point shot with just 15 seconds on the clock, forcing the Lady Lions to use a timeout. McMiller went to the free throw line once again where she made one of her two shots. The Boilermaker made a three-point shot to knot the score at 74-74 with four seconds to play in regulation. The score remained tied after four quarters, sending the game to overtime.
Fourth Quarter
McFadden drained a shot from beyond the arc for the first points in extra time. Purdue converted a three-point play to level the score once again. Each team had an opportunity at the charity stripe where the Boilermakers made one and Merkle also made one. Murray added three points from the perimeter to create a three-point gap which Purdue was able to lessen with one free throw. McMiller was sent to the line for a pair of free shots where she netted both to balloon PSU’s edge to 83-79. A three-point play for the Boilermakers decreased their deficit to one points with :17 to play. Ranisavljevic went to the free throw line where she also made both shots. Purdue had one final chance in the last seven seconds where they heaved multiple three-point shots but were unsuccessful, finalizing an 85-82 Penn State win.
POSTGAME NOTES
Penn State at Purdue
February 4, 2026
Mackey Arena (West Lafayette, Ind.)
- McMiller added her 22nd double-digit scoring outing of the season and 37th of her career. She also surpassed the 20-point mark for the 11th time this campaign and 22nd time in her career and the 30-point mark for the second time this year.
- Merkle recorded her 20th double figure scoring outing and 64th of her career. She also produced her seventh double-double of the campaign and 20th of her career.
- Murray notched her 22nd career game with four-plus three-pointers and 12th performance with four-plus threes.
- There were 14 lead changes and 13 tie scores throughout the contest.
- This was Penn State’s first overtime contest since November 27, 2024.
- The Lady Lions improve to 26-36 in the series history with Purdue.
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