RENO, Nev. - Maggie Lucas scored 18 points, including six in the final minutes, to help No. 17 Penn State beat Iowa State, 66-59, in the opening round of the John Ascuaga's Nugget Classic on Friday.
The Nittany Lions (4-1) will play Nevada (2-2) tonight for the tournament championship.
The Cyclones (3-1) were within two points with 4:30 left in the game after a Jessica Schroll jumper, but the Nittany Lions closed on a 9-4 run.
Lucas matched her season high to lead three Penn State players in double figures. Zhaque Gray scored 14 points and Alex Bentley had 13.
Brynn Williamson led Iowa State with 15 points.
Penn State was up 37-28 at halftime and led by as many as 12 in the game. The Nittany Lions overcame 58 percent free throw shooting (15-for-26) and 32 fouls called against them.
IOWA ST. (3-1): Moody 1-11 4-6 7, Christofferson 1-5 4-5 6, Mansfield 2-6 0-0 5, Schroll 3-7 1-2 7, Poppens 3-8 5-13 11, Harris 0-0 1-2 1, Mays 2-4 1-2 5, Williamson 5-10 1-2 15, Cole 0-1 2-3 2, Ellis 0-1 0-0 0, Zimmerman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-53 19-35 59.
PENN ST. (4-1): Gray 5-7 2-2 14, Bentley 5-13 1-2 13, Nickson 2-8 1-4 5, Lucas 5-15 7-10 18, Greene 2-8 3-3 7, East 0-1 0-0 0, Edwards 0-2 0-1 0, Studevent 0-2 0-0 0, Wolfe 2-5 0-2 4, Waldner 2-2 1-2 5. Totals 23-63 15-26 66.
Halftime-Penn St. 37-28. 3-Point Goals-Iowa St. 6-26 (Williamson 4-9, Mansfield 1-3, Moody 1-7, Schroll 0-1, Ellis 0-1, Cole 0-1, Christofferson 0-4), Penn St. 5-14 (Gray 2-2, Bentley 2-5, Lucas 1-5, Edwards 0-1, Wolfe 0-1). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Iowa St. 44 (Poppens 17), Penn St. 46 (Nickson 13). Assists-Iowa St. 7 (Schroll 2), Penn St. 9 (Bentley 3). Total Fouls-Iowa St. 18, Penn St. 32. Technicals-East, Penn St. Bench. A-1,089.
