Tonight, the Penn State women’s basketball team opened their regular season inside the Bryce Jordan Center against Cleveland State.
At the first media timeout of the first quarter, it was the Lady Lions ahead of the Vikings by the score of 8-4. Petra Bozan and Ava Black had all eight points for Penn State, 8 and 5, respectively.
Cleveland State, not intimidated, stormed back and took the lead 9-8 with 1:41 remaining in the quarter, but this was short-lived after a jump shot by Cristen Carter put Penn State back on top 10-9 (1:05).
To start the second quarter, the score was all knotted at ten and then the Vikings drilled a three to put Cleveland State up 13-10 with 8:21 left until halftime.
The Lady Lions were shooting 24% (6-26) and the Vikings 18% (4-22).
With 4:35 left until halftime, it was Penn State over Cleveland State by the score of 20-17.
Bozan was spearheading the Lady Lions with seven points to lead all scorers.
After a media timeout, Cleveland State then went on an 8-0 run to put CSU up 25-20 with 2:08 left until halftime.
The Lady Lions clawed back to cut the deficit to two and at the half the Vikings were up on the Lady Lions 27-25.
Black and Bozan had seven points apiece for Penn State and Skylar Durley chipped in with six.
To start the second half both teams traded threes and then Enjulina Gonzales from beyond arc tied the game at 30-30.
The Vikings then exploded and had their largest lead of the game of seven points, 42-35, with 3:47 left in the third quarter.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Penn State did not allow the game to get away from them, though, and they stormed back to tie the game, 44-44, to end the third quarter.
Ava Black then splashed a three from the corner to begin the fourth quarter to put PSU up 47-44 with 9:19 left in regulation.
The feisty Vikings did not flinch and were answering any Lady Lion run and with 7:36 left to play it was Cleveland State back on top 50-47.
With 4:19 to play in the game, Cleveland State maintained their lead 52-51 over PSU.
After Penn State tied the game 52-52 after a Black free throw, the Vikings went on a 4-0 run to put them up 56-52 with 1:05 remaining in regulation.
Bozan hit a free throw to make the score 56-53, but then CSU knocked in both of their free throws at the other end and with 50.5 seconds left in the game, it was Cleveland State 58, Penn State 53.
Gonzales then knocked in a shot to cut the deficit to three, 58-55, with 48 seconds left.
With 23.2 seconds left in the game, Penn State had the ball in their possession after a tie-up jump ball.
The Vikings then forced a five-second violation as Penn State was trying to inbound the ball.
The Lady Lions then drew an offensive foul against CSU in their inbound play and the Lady Lions had the ball with 22.1 left in regulation down by three, 58-55.
Penn State made it interesting but missed a few threes and the Vikings held on for the win, 62-61.
