From Mirror, wire reports

UNIVERSITY PARK — Despite wielding a double-digit advantage with just over six minutes to play, the Penn State women’s basketball team dropped a 77-73 decision to Rutgers on Sunday afternoon from the Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State fell to 10-11 overall and 1-9 against Big Ten Conference competition. Rutgers improved to 9-12 overall and secured its first B1G victory, moving to 1-9.

The Lady Lions were effective from 3-point territory, connecting on 53% of their long-range attempts. PSU managed to out-shoot their opponents from the field as well.

Redshirt sophomore guard Moriah Murray contributed a 21-point outburst that included a 6-for-10 finish from beyond the 3-point arc. Graduate guard Gabby Elliott poured in 14 points of her own, redshirt sophomore center Gracie Merkle scored 11, and Bellwood-Antis High School product Alli Campbell added seven points and seven assists.

RUTGERS (9-12): Adams 5-15 5-7 15, Perkins 1-4 0-0 2, Lacey 4-11 2-2 14, McMiller 5-12 3-3 15, Sidibe 2-7 1-1 5, Cornwell 3-4 0-2 6, Walker 3-4 0-0 6, Petticord 4-7 2-2 12, Thompson 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 28-65 13-17 77

PENN ST. (10-11): Hall 1-4 1-1 3, Johnson 1-3 0-0 2, Campbell 3-6 0-0 7, Elliott 6-11 0-0 14, Murray 6-11 3-3 21, Merkle 5-7 1-1 11, Oden 3-9 0-1 7, Walker 2-4 4-5 8, Totals 27-55 9-11 73

Rutgers 21 12 19 25 — 77

Penn St. 28 19 17 9 — 73

3-Point Goals–Rutgers 8-20 (Adams 0-1, Perkins 0-2, Lacey 4-8, McMiller 2-4, Sidibe 0-1, Petticord 2-4), Penn St. 10-19 (Johnson 0-1, Campbell 1-2, Elliott 2-3, Murray 6-10, Oden 1-3). Assists–Rutgers 16 (McMiller 4), Penn St. 21 (Campbell 7). Fouled Out–Rutgers Sidibe. Rebounds–Rutgers 39 (Cornwell 9), Penn St. 29 (Merkle 8). Total Fouls–Rutgers 13, Penn St. 19. Technical Fouls–None. A–2,438.

SFU women edge Wagner

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Yanessa Boyd and Julianna Gibson led two defensive stands in the final three seconds to help Saint Francis hold on for a 50-48 win against Wagner in Northeast Conference women’s basketball action on Saturday.

Boyd had the defensive assignment with the Red Flash up one point and altered the layup attempt by the Seahawks. Gibson was pushed to the floor on the rebound attempt, went down, and made a free throw. The junior then knocked the ensuing inbounds pass out of bounds at midcourt with 2.4 seconds left, and then she blocked a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the waning seconds, with Boyd coming down with the rebound to secure the victory.

Natalie Johnson led SFU with 16 points off the bench. Marissa Shelton added 10 points for the Red Flash, who improved to 5-3 in the NEC.

SAINT FRANCIS (50): Shelton 4-7 0-0 10, Gibson 2-3 1-2 5, Plata 1-7 1-2 3, Artero 1-3 0-0 2, Boyd 1-4 0-1 2, Johnson 7-12 2-4 16, Lavy 2-3 0-0 6, Bell 2-4 0-0 4, Robinson 1-2 0-1 2, Eke 0-0 0-0 0, Campbell 0-2 0-0 0. Totals — 21-47 4-10 50.

WAGNER (48): Washington 2-9 4-4 9, Foz 3-6 2-2 8, Ricard 4-7 0-0 8, Doyinsola 4-7 0-0 8, Fernandez 2-7 0-0 5, Fabozzi 2-7 1-2 5, Kaci 1-6 0-0 3, Carter 1-1 0-0 2, Balde-Camara 0-3 0-2 0, Doreste 0-0 0-0 0, Johansson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals — 19-54 7-10 48.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Saint Francis 18 12 9 11 — 50

Wagner 11 11 16 10 — 48

3-point goals: Saint Francis 4-13 (Lavy 2-3, Shelton 2-5, Robinson 0-1, Plata 0-4); Wagner 3-18 (Washington 1-3, Fernandez 1-3, Kaci 1-5, Foz 0-1, Ricard 0-1, Johnansson 0-1, Fabozzi 0-4). Assists: Saint Francis 11 (Johnson 3); Wagner 12 (Foz 4). Rebounds: Saint Francis 39 (Bell 6); Wagner 27 (Washington 8).

Records: Saint Francis (7-14, 5-3 in NEC); Wagner (5-14, 2-5 in NEC).

PSU Altoona tops Hilbert

The Penn State Altoona women’s basketball team used a dominant performance to record its sixth Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference win, as the Lions defeated visiting league foe Hilbert College, 64-41, on Saturday afternoon in Adler Arena.

Penn State Altoona (9-9, 6-3 AMCC) limited Hilbert to single-digit points in the first and second quarters, en route to the Lions building a 35-17 halftime lead. Penn State Altoona went on to lead by as many as 27 points to finish with a comfortable win.

The Lions held Hilbert (1-17, 1-8 AMCC) to a 31.0 percent field goal percentage, and they forced the Hawks into committing 25 turnovers. As a team, Penn State Altoona blocked nine shots, tying for the fourth-most blocks in a game in team history.

Avana Sayles led the way for Penn State Altoona with game-high totals of 22 points, seven rebounds, six steals and six blocks. Sayles’ total of six blocks tied the Lions’ single-game blocks record.

Jaidyn McCracken (Bellwood-Antis) added 13 points and a game-best four assists. Raniyah Green chipped in nine points while tying Sayles for the game high in rebounds with seven. Jess Burns scored eight points, and Madison Rusnica contributed seven points, five rebounds, and three blocks.

Hilbert got 13 points and seven rebounds from Kelsey Schlagenhauf, while Mackenzie Catan added 11 points and six rebounds for the Hawks.

Penn State Altoona finished its day by winning the turnover battle by a 7-25 margin, and the Lions outscored Hilbert 29-4 off turnovers, 28-8 in the paint, and 12-2 in fastbreak situations.

The Lions have another home AMCC matchup this Wednesday, welcoming conference opponent Pitt-Greensburg to Adler Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff.