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PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Driven by a 24-point, 18-rebound night from redshirt sophomore center Gracie Merkle, the Penn State women's basketball team caught fire in the second half in a 68-51 victory over Providence Wednesday night.
The Lady Lions ended a two-game losing skid, improving to 9-2 overall.
Penn State extended its lead over the Friars following the eighth all-time matchup at 8-0. The Friars fell to 6-6.
The Lady Lions outrebounded the Friars by a 44-29 differential and nearly doubled Providence up on the offensive boards, winning the offensive rebounding battle by a 13-7 margin.
Merkle shot 66.6% from the floor, going 10-for-15 in an all-around impressive evening of work in the win.
Her 18 rebounds marked her most impressive individual showing on the glass since transferring to Penn State, with her season-high showing against the Friars surpassing a 13-board performance on opening night against Bucknell.
Two additional Lady Lions finished the night with double digits in the scoring column, with redshirt sophomore guard Moriah Murray logging 14 points and senior guard Jayla Oden finishing with 13 points. Alli Campbell added six points and five assists.
Penn State is at Kansas this Sunday at 3 p.m.
PENN ST. (9-2): Hall 3-3 0-0 6, Merkle 10-15 4-4 24, Elliott 1-4 0-0 3, Murray 5-11 1-1 14, Oden 5-13 1-1 13, Johnson 1-3 0-0 2, Rust 0-1 0-2 0, Campbell 3-9 0-0 6, Jekot 0-2 0-0 0, Santana 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 0-3 0-0 0, Totals 28-64 6-8 68
PROVIDENCE (6-6): Archibald 5-8 1-4 12, Olsen 2-2 0-0 4, Efosa 6-17 3-4 15, Farrell 3-10 0-0 8, Scarlett 1-6 0-0 2, Bandoma 0-4 2-6 2, Morales Romero 1-5 0-0 3, Sirtautaite 1-1 0-0 2, Hall 0-1 0-0 0, Koch 0-0 0-0 0, Sheppard 1-1 0-0 3, Totals 20-55 6-14 51
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Penn State 17 10 20 21 -- 68
Providence 15 9 12 15 -- 51
3-Point Goals--Penn St. 6-20 (Elliott 1-2, Murray 3-9, Oden 2-5, Johnson 0-2, Campbell 0-1, Jekot 0-1), Providence 5-17 (Archibald 1-2, Efosa 0-2, Farrell 2-6, Scarlett 0-1, Morales Romero 1-5, Sheppard 1-1). Assists--Penn St. 16 (Campbell 5), Providence 9 (Efosa 3). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds_Penn St. 44 (Merkle 18), Providence 29 (Archibald 7, Efosa 7). Total Fouls--Penn St. 15, Providence 12. Technical Fouls--None. A--1,145.