Lady Lions: Loss Ends Five-Game Winning Streak

Penn State missed a chance to climb into a tie for second place in the Big Ten standings, losing 83-77 Sunday afternoon at Michigan State.

Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas scored a team-high 21 points, joining Mia Nickson (18) and Nikke Greene (10) as the only players to reach double figures for the Lions. Junior point Alex Bentley struggled from the field, shooting 3-for-11.

Michigan State’s Porsche Poole scored a career-high 32 points one game after setting a previous high of 28.

The Spartans led for most of the game until PSU senior Zhaque Gray hit a 3-pointer with just more than four minutes remaining in regulation to give the Lady Lions a 70-69 lead.

Michigan State countered with an 11-5 run, partly from poor shot selection by the Lions.

The No. 18 Lady Lions now sit two games behind conference leader Purdue heading into the final month of the regular season.

The loss snapped the Lady Lions five-game winning streak and was their first loss since losing to the Spartans by 10 on Jan. 7 at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Lady Lions return home to the Jordan Center at 7 Thursday night against Big Ten basement dweller Indiana.