Penn State Women’s Basketball: Lady Lions’ Second-Half Spurt Moves Them into Round 2

Penn State has been waiting for March all season.

In a sour ending on its home court in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, the Lady Lions watched a double-digit lead evaporate in the second half and their season end.

Now, once again in the field of 64 and facing a win-or-go-home mentality with every opponent, the No. 4 seed Lady Lions can stop waiting.

A 15-day layoff gave way to an 85-77 victory against No. 13 UTEP in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Baton Rouge, La.

Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas led all scorers with 23 points and junior point guard Alex Bentley chipped in 21 as the Lady Lions advance to the second round, where they will face No. 5 LSU at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Tied at 39 at the half, Penn State pushed its lead to 14 over the first eight minutes, a margin too steep for the Miners to overcome. They cut it to within five with a little more than seven minutes remaining in regulation.

The game buoyed at three or four possessions late in the second half. Penn State converted 25-for-31 free throws and scored 22 points off 17 turnovers.