ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Penn State Lady Lions erased a 14-point first half deficit with a Maggie Lucas reverse layup with eight seconds remaining in regulation and controlled overtime for a 96-89 win at Oakland Thursday night.
The Lady Lions, who are 3-0 for the fifth consecutive season, landed seven players in double figures, led by junior Zhaque Gray and freshman Ariel Edwards with 16 points each.
Gray added three rebounds and two assists, while Edwards also chipped in three rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore Alex Bentley tallied 15 points, six assists and four steals in 38 minutes of action, and Lucas accounted for 13 points, three rebounds and three assists off of the bench.
Senior Julia Trogele posted her fifth career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Sophomores Mia Nickson and Gizelle Studevent both added 10 points.
It was a career high for Studevent, passing her previous high of seven points against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Lady Lions started the game with a concentration on the post game, but had a tough go of it in the beginning, making only three of their first 11 shots.
Penn State came out strong in the second half, scoring the first eight points of the frame.
After Oakland clicked off a 9-0 run to establish a 12-point lead with less than four minutes remaining, Penn State used a short spurt to pull within 86-83.
Lucas drove the lane for a reverse layup with eight seconds remaining and the 87-87 tie.
The Grizzlies had one final chance to win the game, but their attempt was wide.
After nearly two scoreless minutes in overtime, Edwards grabbed an offensive rebound and converted on an old-fashioned 3-point play to give the Lady Lions their first lead of the game since early in the first half.
Calhoun scored for the Grizzlies with 1:44 left to make it a one-point game, but Penn State solidified the win with a pair of rebounds and putbacks by Trogele and Nickson, as well as a pair of free throws by Edwards.
Game notes: Edwards registered a career-best 16 points, including making her first career shots from the field. ... Trogele posted her fifth career double-double with 10 points and a career-best 15 rebounds.
PENN?STATE (3-0): Trogele 2-5 6-7 10, Gray 6-12 0-0 16, Bentley 7-15 0-0 15, Wolfe 1-2 2-2 4, Greene 1-4 0-0 2, Edwards 4-7 7-8 16, Studevent 3-5 3-4 10, Lucas 4-13 2-2 13, Nickson 5-10 0-0 10, Womack 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 33-77 20-23 96.
OAKLAND (1-2): Patritto 3-10 2-4 9, Lipscomb 2-7 0-0 4, Minifee 6-11 0-1 14, Watterworth 7-19 9-10 23, Calhoun 7-17 10-12 25, Hamlet 1-3 0-1 2, Carlton 0-0 0-0 0, Nelson 4-5 0-0 12, Bachrouche 0-0 0-0 0, Carnago 0-2 0-1 0. Totals 30-74 21-28 89.
Halftime-Oakland 44-32. 3-point goals-Penn State 10-23 (Lucas 3-9, Gray 4-8, Bentley 1-2, Edwards 1-2, Studevent 1-1, Womack 0-1), Oakland 8-19 (Minifee 2-5, Nelson 4-5, Patritto 1-3, Watterworth 0-3, Lipscomb 0-2, Calhoun 1-1). Fouled out-Gray, Patritto. Rebounds-Penn State 44 (Trogele 15), Oakland 40 (Minifee 9). Assists-Penn State 17 (Bentley 6), Oakland 25 (Minifee 6, Calhoun 6). Total fouls-Penn State 23, Oakland 18. A-895.
