No. 14 'Cats Fall Victim to Late PSU Run in B1G Opener

12/31/2015 3:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Five Wildcats scored in double figures for the second time this season, but No. 14 Northwestern (11-2, 0-1 B1G) fell victim to a late Penn State (6-6, 1-0 B1G) run as the 'Cats dropped their Big Ten opener, 79-72, on New Years Eve at Bryce Jordan Arena.

"I have to give Penn State a lot of credit," said head coach Joe McKeown. "They really outplayed us today. We came back and took the lead in the third quarter and played really well, but we could not defend late in the fourth quarter. That was the difference in the game. It was a game of runs and we just broke down defensively at the wrong time."

Junior Nia Coffey led the Wildcats with 20 points and 12 rebounds, good for her Big Ten-leading eighth double-double of the year. Classmate Ashley Deary recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-best 10 assists, while senior Maggie Lyon poured in 14 points, junior Christen Inman tallied 13 and sophomore Lydia Rohde contributed a career-high 11 points.

The Lady Lions jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead with four-straight free throws to start the game, but Lyon opened scoring for the 'Cats with a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Chicago's Big Ten Team built a seven-point lead early after Coffey converted a 3-point play and Lyon posted two more triples. Penn State came roaring back with a 9-0 run to take over as the Lady Lions took a four-point advantage into the second quarter.

PSU opened the second frame with a 6-0 surge before Coffey drew a foul and drained a pair of free throws to break home team's run. The Wildcats came within three with 4:08 left in the half, but entered the halftime break trailing 37-31.

Northwestern came back scratching in the second half, cutting its deficit to just four on the back of a 3-pointer from Lyon, but the Lady Lions once again built up a double-digit lead. With 5:13 left in the third quarter, a Rohde trey triggered a 12-2 run as the Wildcats took over 54-52 after 30 minutes of play.

The teams exchanged baskets in the early goings of the final frame. Penn State used a layup to take its final lead of the game with 2:56 left in regulation and never looked back. The 'Cats came within five with 30 seconds remaining, but PSU held on for its first Big Ten win of the year.

For the game, Northwestern shot 33 percent (26-78) from the field, 30 percent (10-33) from long range and 63 percent (10-16) from the free-throw line. Penn State connected on 40 percent (28-70) of its shots, including 29 percent (4-14) from beyond the arc and 61 percent (19-31) from the charity stripe. The Lady Lions won the rebounding battle, 62-43.

Northwestern will look to rebound on Sunday, Jan. 3, when it hosts Nebraska for its conference home opener. Tip off is slated for 1:30 p.m., and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.