University Park, Pa. -- Tanisha Wright (West Mifflin, Pa.) and Jennifer Harris (Harrisburg, Pa.) each scored 20 points and the No. 24 Penn State women's basketball team pulled away from Northwestern for an 83-56 win in front of 15,177 on Sunday (Feb. 20).
The game was the Lady Lions' home season finale, and the win gave Penn State its second perfect home season in two years, as it finished the year 12-0 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Before the game the Lady Lions honored the five seniors who finished their four-year careers with 50 wins at home.
Northwestern hung in the game early, but the sharp shooting of Harris kept the Wildcats at bay. The Lady Lions led by just two points with a little over 10 minutes to play in the first half, but Wright hit a free throw, Harris scored five quick points and Strom hit another 3-pointer to put Penn State up by nine just two minutes later. The Lady Lions stayed hot the rest of the half and led by 15 at the break. In the second half Penn State pulled ahead by 20 with 14:28 left to play, but Northwestern managed to trim the lead down to 12 several times. The Wildcats got no closer as Penn State closed outscored Northwestern, 14-6, over the last five minutes of the game.
Jess Strom (Munhall, Pa.) added 15 point, including 13 in the first half to go along with six assists. Amanda Brown (Kennett Square, Pa.) pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with seven points. Wright, the two-time defending Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year had three steals, and added one last note to her stellar career by draining a 3-pointer as her last shot on the Bryce Jordan Center floor.
The Lady Lions now head on the road to play No. 2/3 Ohio State on Feb. 27. The Lady Lions defeated the Buckeyes, 69-62, earlier this season in University Park. Ohio State lost to No. 9 Michigan State today, 64-62, and all three teams remain tied atop the Big Ten standings with two losses.
Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament begins March 3 in Indianapolis. The Lady Lions have secured a first-round bye and will begin play on March 4. All-session and single-session tickets are also now on sale for $55 at the Penn State ticket office, all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone numbers (317-239-5151 in central Indiana) and http://www.ticketmaster.com