Trending
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Leilani Kapinus made two free throws with 0.9 seconds left in the game as the State women's basketball pulled off a 60-59 victory over Toledo to preserve its perfect 6-0 season Friday at in the Daytona Beach Invitational.
The Lady Lions -- at 6-0 -- extended their longest winning streak since the 2016-17 team achieved the feat during the non-conference season and are off to the best start since the 1996-97 season (7-0).
Penn State finishes out the tournament with Fresno State Saturday at 11 a.m.
Toledo (2-3) led for just 30 seconds in the game, but were able to erase a five-point deficit with under a minute and half left in the fourth quarter. They gained a 59-58 lead with seven seconds after a pair of free throws. After Penn State advanced the ball on a timeout, Kapinus caught the inbounds pass, backed down to the right block and drew the shooting foul.
After the Rockets made it a one-possession lead on a jumper in the first possession of the second half, Penn State went on an 11-0 run for a 40-27 lead that carried into the fourth quarter. Makenna Marisa hit a jumper to start it, Shay Ciezki followed with seven points (three-pointer, jumper and layup) and Chanaya Pinto hit a layup.
Penn State grabbed the lead early in the first half, jumping out to an 11-3 lead after an 8-0 run. Marisa produced two-straight layups and a jumper, and Johnasia Cash got a basket in the paint.
Game notes: Ciezki led the Lady Lions with 16 points, her second double digit game in a row and third of the season. … Pinto netted a career-high 13 points, six rebounds and three steals in her first start as a Lady Lion. … Marisa finished with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists. … She recorded her 63rd double-digit scoring game, including 35-straight dating back to the start of last season. … Cash had a game-high 10 boards.
TOLEDO (3-2): Cook 2-7 1-2 5, Goss 3-6 1-2 8, Lockett 5-14 5-7 15, Mikonowicz 2-9 3-4 8, Wiard 3-11 8-10 15, Brewer 0-1 0-0 0, Curry 0-1 0-0 0, Garcia 1-5 0-0 2, King 2-4 2-2 6, Jansen 0-4 0-0 0, Totals 18-62 20-27 59
PENN ST. (6-0): Pinto 5-9 1-1 13, Williamson 2-4 0-1 4, Ciezki 6-13 2-2 16, Kapinus 0-3 3-4 3, Marisa 7-14 0-0 14, Brigham 2-5 0-0 4, Camden 0-2 0-0 0, Cash 2-8 0-0 4, Dia 0-0 0-0 0, Thompson 1-2 0-0 2, Campbell 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 25-61 6-8 60
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Toledo 13 12 12 22 -- 59
Penn St. 18 11 13 18 -- 60
3-Point Goals--Toledo 3-22 (Goss 1-3, Lockett 0-6, Mikonowicz 1-4, Wiard 1-4, Garcia 0-3, King 0-1, Jansen 0-1), Penn St. 4-15 (Pinto 2-4, Ciezki 2-5, Kapinus 0-2, Marisa 0-1, Brigham 0-1, Camden 0-2). Assists--Toledo 11 (Lockett 4), Penn St. 9 (Ciezki 3, Marisa 3). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds--Toledo 39 (Mikonowicz 8, Wiard 8), Penn St. 43 (Cash 10). A--350.