UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State women’s basketball team moved to 8-0 for the first time since 1993-93 on Wednesday afternoon with an 86-78 overtime win against Drexel

The win marked the Lady Lions’ 17th consecutive non-conference home court win, a program record.

Redshirt sophomore Gracie Merkle and graduate student Gabby Elliott paced PSU throughout the contest, both scoring in double figures.

Penn State showed grit in the paint to pull out the victory, outscoring Drexel 56-34. The nation’s assists leaders continued their productive pass game with 26 assists, marking the seventh time this season the Lady Lions have produced 20-plus assists.

After five tie scores and two lead changes, Penn State held the Dragons to just four points while scoring 12 of its own in the OT period.

Merkle recorded her fourth consecutive double-double and fifth this season. Her five games with 10-plus points and rebounds ranks her third in the nation in the category. The 6-foot-6 center produced a season-best 31 points and 11 rebounds.

Merkle contributed to key moments in the game using free throws, drawing eight fouls and shooting 9-of-11 from the charity stripe. Six of her 11 boards came on the offensive glass as she continues to sit in the top ranks in the country in offensive rebounds.

Elliott also posted season-best numbers with 16 points and 10 rebounds, her first double-double of her career, shooting 8-of-10 from the field.

Penn State’s 26 assists were paced by Moriah Murray with a career-high eight, and Bellwood-Antis High School graduate Alli Campbell matched her personal best at eight. Campbell also produced her third consecutive double-figure scoring outing with 11 points to go with seven rebounds.

DREXEL (2-3): Evans 2-8 2-2 6, Hodges 8-15 0-0 20, Baker 9-23 0-0 20, McCormack 3-10 2-2 9, O’Neill 7-11 0-0 17, Gravley 2-5 0-0 4, Lavin 1-3 0-0 2, McGurk 0-3 0-0 0, Totals 32-78 4-4 78

PENN ST. (8-0): Merkle 11-17 9-11 31, Campbell 5-13 1-2 11, Elliott 8-10 0-0 16, Murray 4-6 0-0 9, Oden 3-8 3-4 9, Hall 2-3 0-0 4, Johnson 2-7 2-4 6, Jekot 0-0 0-0 0, Steele 0-2 0-0 0, Walker 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 35-66 15-21 86

Drexel 21 24 16 13 4 — 78

Penn St. 30 19 17 8 12 — 86

3-Point Goals–Drexel 10-24 (Hodges 4-5, Baker 2-6, McCormack 1-7, O’Neill 3-4, McGurk 0-2), Penn St. 1-8 (Campbell 0-1, Murray 1-2, Oden 0-1, Johnson 0-2, Steele 0-2). Assists–Drexel 26 (McCormack 8), Penn St. 26 (Campbell 8, Murray 8). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–Drexel 29 (Hodges 7), Penn St. 47 (Merkle 11). Total Fouls–Drexel 17, Penn St. 9. Technical Fouls–None. A–1,888.

Flash topped by St. Joe’s

PHILADELPHIA — Laura Ziegler became just the fourth Hawk in program history to record a triple-double as Saint Joseph’s cruised to an 88-35 victory over Saint Francis on Wednesday afternoon inside Hagan Arena.

The Hawks moved to 5-1, and Saint Francis fell to 1-7. Ziegler had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

SAINT FRANCIS (1-7): Boyd 2-7 2-2 6, Gibson 1-5 1-2 3, Plata 0-4 2-2 2, Artero 1-4 0-0 2, Lavy 0-5 0-0 0, Johnson 3-7 1-3 9, Shelton 1-4 2-3 4, Campbell 2-3 0-2 4, Robinson 1-4 0-0 3, Walker 1-6 0-0 2, Eke 0-1 0-0 0, Daffe 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 12-50 8-14 35

SAINT JOSEPH’S (5-1): Brugler 8-10 1-1 18, Smith 7-12 0-0 17, Ziegler 6-15 2-3 16, Stokes 4-6 2-2 12, Casey 3-7 2-2 9, Snead 3-5 1-2 7, Maurina 2-2 1-1 5, Jagerskog 2-4 -1 4, Greer 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 35-62 9-12 88

Saint Francis 24 16 13 4 — 35

Saint Joseph’s 19 17 8 12 — 88

3-Point Goals–Saint Francis 3-16 (Johnson 2-2, Robinson 1-2, Boyd 0-2, Plata 0-2, Shelton 0-2, Lavy 0-3, Walker 0-3, Saint Joseph’s (9-20 (Smith 3-6, Stokes 2-4, Ziegler 2-5, Casey 1-1, Brugler 1-2, Snead 0-1, Greer 0-1). Assists–Saint Francis 6 (Plata 3), Saint Joseph’s 25 (Ziegler 10). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–Saint Francis 29 (Campbell 6), Saint Joseph’s 37 (Ziegler 13). Total Fouls–Saint Francis 14, Saint Joseph’s 13. Technical Fouls–None. A–650.