McMiller

UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State women’s basketball team scored an 83-55 season-opening victory over Bucknell Monday night at Rec Hall.

Sophomore guard Kiyomi McMiller and redshirt junior center Gracie Merkle’s 20-plus-point performances, along with efficient team defense, powered Penn State to the win. McMiller totaled 27 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals in her Lady Lion debut while Merkle added 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field.

Four freshmen made their collegiate debuts with Viktoria Ranisavljevic leading the way eight points, six boards, three assists and two steals. Shayla Smith recorded six points and three rebounds. Rachael Okokoh contributed five points and two boards and Nyla McFadden was the fourth freshman to make their collegiate appearance. Senior forward Amiya Evans also played her first game, adding six points and seven rebounds.

As a team, the Lady Lions controlled the game with their defense, forcing 21 turnovers and scoring 27 points from those miscues. Penn State posted 14 steals, it’s most as a team since Nov. 21, 2024 against Marshall.

The Lady Lions were also effective on the other side of the court, notching a 53.6 field goal percentage.

The Lady Lions host Cincinnati on Friday at 7 p.m.

BUCKNELL (0-1): Coskun 4-14 0-0 9, Zemitis 5-12 1-2 14, Casey 5-6 0-0 12, Kunzwiler 0-2 1-4 1, Weisman 3-10 0-1 8, Ashton 0-0 2-4 2, Hardy 0-0 0-0 0, Houghton 2-3 0-1 4, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Kreuzer 0-3 2-2 2, Richards 1-5 1-2 3, Totals 20-55 7-16 55

PENN STATE (1-0): Merkle 11-13 2-5 24, McMiller 12-20 2-2 27, Murray 1-4 0-0 2, Ranisavljevic 3-7 0-0 8, Santana 1-6 0-0 3, Evans 3-4 0-0 6, Okokoh 2-4 1-3 5, McFadden 0-2 0-0 0, Smith 3-6 0-0 6, Steele 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 37-69 5-10 83

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bucknell 21 10 15 9 — 55

Penn State 23 17 22 21 — 83

3-Point Goals_Bucknell 8-21 (Coskun 1-5, Zemitis 3-7, Casey 2-2, Weisman 2-5, Kreuzer 0-1, Richards 0-1), Penn St. 4-17 (McMiller 1-4, Murray 0-2, Ranisavljevic 2-3, Santana 1-3, McFadden 0-1, Smith 0-2, Steele 0-2). Assists_Bucknell 16 (Weisman 6), Penn St. 18 (McMiller 6). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Bucknell 34 (Coskun 14), Penn St. 40 (Evans 7). Total Fouls_Bucknell 13, Penn St. 19. Technical Fouls_None. A–1,446.

Flash fall

PITTSBURGH — The Saint Francis women’s basketball team opened its season on Monday afternoon, losing at Duquesne 89-60, in area collegiate action.

The game marked the head coaching debut for SFU’s Chynna Bozeman.

Aleah James scored 17 points for the Red Flash, including a 3-for-6 showing from the 3-point area.

With the Red Flash holding a 5-4 margin, the Dukes went on a 14-3 run to take a 10-point lead at 18-8 with 1:54 left in the quarter. Saint Francis cut the margin to seven points, but could get no closer in a game it trailed, 47-33, at halftime.

Sonia Sato added 13 points for the Red Flash, who also received 11 points from Makyiah Ward.

Duquesne got 17 points off the bench from Nadia Moore to go with 16 off the bench from Dunja Zecevic. Teammate Raevin Washington added 15 points, and Alexis Bordas and Gabby Grantham-Medley each finished with 11 points. Cassandra Hawthorne led SFU rebounders with nine caroms.

The Red Flash are at Lafayette this Saturday.

SAINT FRANCIS (60): James 6-16 3-6 17, Sato 4-15 3-4 13, Ward 4-5 0-0 11, Hawthorne 3-8 1-2 8, Ricks 1-6 4-4 6, Minnis 2-4 0-0 5, Thornhill 0-5 0-0 0. Totals: 20-59 10-13 60.

DUQUESNE (89): Washington 6-10 3-4 15, Bordas 4-14 2-2 11, Grantham-Medley 5-12 1-2 11, Waler 2-4 2-2 6, Blackford 1-7 0-0 3, Moore 7-12 2-2 17, Zecevic 7-11 2-6 16, Green 2-5 0-0 4, Sane 0-1 2-2 2, McConnell 1-2 0-0 2, Rohkohl 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 36-81 14-20 89.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Saint Francis 15 18 13 14 — 60

Duquesne 23 24 27 15 — 89

3-point field goals: SFU 10-35 (James 3-6, Sato 2-11, Ward 3-4, Hawthorne 1-3, Ricks 0-3, Minnis 1-3, Thornhill 0-5). Duquesne 3-27 (Bordas 1-9, Grantham-Medley 0-2, Walker 0-1, Blackford 1-7, Moore 1-4, Zecevic 0-3, McConnell 0-1). Rebounds: SFU 36 (Hawthorne 9); Duquesne 51 (Grantham-Medley 11). Assists: SFU 12 (3 tied with 3); Duquesne 14 (Walker 4). Attendance: 677