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Women: PSU vs. Michigan
Tipoff: 3 p.m., Target Center, Minneapolis, Minn.
Records: Penn State (14-16); Michigan (21-8)
TV: Big Ten
Radio: 99.7-FM
Internet: Penn State Radio Network on the Penn State app
Notable: Michigan, the fifth seed in this Big Ten tournament, beat Saint Francis, 91-36, earlier this year in non-conference play. … PSU, the No. 13 seed, lost to Michigan, 82-72, on Jan. 3. … Makenna Marisa now has more than 1,750 career points after her game-winning shot against Minnesota. … The winner of this game gets Ohio State on Friday afternoon.
Mirror prediction: Michigan, 91-68
Mirror prediction record: 22-8
--- Michael Boytim
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS -- Makenna Marisa scored 22 points and No. 13 seed Penn State beat 12th-seeded Minnesota 72-67 in the opening game of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday despite blowing a 15-point fourth-quarter lead.
Penn State (14-16) takes on No. 5 seed Michigan in the second round today at 3 p.m on the Big Ten Network.
The Lady Lions snapped a five-game losing streak with their win over the Golden Gophers (11-19), who won both regular-season meetings. It's the first conference tournament win for Penn State in five years.
Alanna Micheaux tied the game at 66-all with 47 seconds remaining after the Gophers had trailed the entire way. Marisa then scored under the basket off an inbounds and completed the three-point play.
After Amaya Battle's free throw made it a two-point margin, Alexa Williamson went to the line with 23.3 left for the Lady Lions. She made the first free throw and the remainder of the Lady Lions were still huddling with coach Carolyn Keiger on the sideline when Williamson missed the second and they had to scramble back on defense. After a Gophers miss and Penn State regained possession off a jump ball, Ali Brigham added two final free throws.
Shay Ciezki added 16 points for Penn State but left the game late in the third quarter after rolling her right ankle. Leilani Kapinus and Williamson scored 11 points each. Chanaya Pinto had seven points, eight rebounds, six steals and three assists.
Mara Braun scored 25 points and Battle 16 for Minnesota.
Penn State scored the game's first eight points and led 21-3 late in the opening quarter of play.
In other first-round tourney action, Kaylene Smikle scored 26 points, Chyna Cornwell had 15 points and 15 rebounds and Rutgers edged Northwestern 63-59.
PENN ST. (14-16): Pinto 3-5 1-2 7, Williamson 3-7 5-8 11, Ciezki 7-13 1-2 16, Kapinus 5-8 1-1 11, Marisa 9-18 2-5 22, Camden 0-1 0-0 0, Cash 1-1 0-0 2, Dia 0-0 0-0 0, Brigham 0-0 2-2 2, Thompson 0-3 1-2 1, Totals 28-56 13-22 72
MINNESOTA (11-19): Heyer 1-3 0-0 2, Micheaux 4-5 1-2 9, Battle 6-14 4-5 16, Braun 10-23 1-1 25, Czinano 0-3 2-2 2, Gradwell 3-6 0-0 9, Borowicz 1-5 0-0 2, Hammond 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 26-62 8-10 67
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Penn State……………………………………. 21 14 21 16 -- 72
Minnesota………………………………………..9 16 16 26 -- 67
3-point goals--Penn St. 3-11 (Pinto 0-1, Ciezki 1-3, Marisa 2-4, Thompson 0-3), Minnesota 7-22 (Heyer 0-1, Braun 4-12, Gradwell 3-6, Borowicz 0-3). Assists--Penn St. 10 (Kapinus 4), Minnesota 17 (Battle 8). Fouled Out--Penn St. Kapinus. Rebounds--Penn St. 31 (Pinto 7), Minnesota 39 (Micheaux 8). Total Fouls--Penn St. 17, Minnesota 20. Technical Fouls_None. A--4,890.