Wright, Harris lead PSU to 83-56 win
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Tanisha Wright and Jen Harris each scored 20 points to lead No. 24 Penn State over Northwestern 83-56 on Sunday. Playing in her final home game, Wright went 7-of-15 from the floor and scored 13 of her points in the second half to help the Lady Lions (18-8, 13-2) hold off a late Northwestern run.
Suzanne Morrison scored 16 points to lead the Wildcats (5-22, 2-12), who cut a 20-point second-half deficit to 12 on Sara Stutz’s two free throws with 7:32 remaining. But Morrison fouled out just over a minute later and the Wildcats couldn’t get any closer.
Penn State closed the game on a 21-6 run behind nine points from Wright.
Jess Strom added 15 points and had a team-high five steals, helping the Lady Lions to a 30-8 advantage in points off turnovers. Amanda Brown also contributed a career-high 14 rebounds for the Lady Lions.
Penn State finished the season 12-0 at home and moved into a first place tie in the Big Ten with Michigan State, which beat No. 2 Ohio State on Sunday.
No. 9 Michigan St. 66, No. 2 Ohio St. 64
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Kristin Haynie made two free throws with 5.4 seconds left to cap off a 19-point performance, leading No. 9 Michigan State to a win over second-ranked Ohio State that snapped the school record for victories in a season.
With the game tied at 64, Haynie drove the lane and was fouled by Ashley Allen to set up the winning free throws.
Michigan State (24-3, 13-2 Big Ten) is now tied with No. 24 Penn State for first place in the conference, a half-game ahead of the Buckeyes (25-3, 12-2). The Spartans haven’t won a share of the Big Ten title since 1996-97.
Ohio State’s Brandie Hoskins missed an 18-foot jumper as time expired, snapping the Buckeyes’ winning streak at 14 games.
It was the eighth straight win for Michigan State, which improved to 12-0 at home.
The loss ruined an outstanding performance by Ohio State center Jessica Davenport, who had 19 points, 12 blocks and 13 rebounds. Caity Matter had 20 points and Hoskins added 17.
Lindsay Bowen scored 16 points for Michigan State, which broke the record for wins in a season set in 1976-77. Kelli Roehrig added 14. Haynie had seven steals.
In front of a school-record crowd of 14,066 at the Breslin Center, Michigan State led by as many as 12 points in the first half. But Ohio State cut the lead to 38-36 at the break and took a 57-54 lead with about six minutes remaining.
The Spartans are 8-1 against ranked teams, with the only loss coming Jan. 6 at Ohio State, 68-54.
Sunday’s game featured the top two scoring teams in the Big Ten. Ohio State entered the game averaging 74.1, while Michigan State was scoring 71.9.
The Buckeyes also lead the nation in shooting, hitting 52 percent from the field this season. They made 49.1 percent of their shots Sunday.
Michigan State shot 37.7 percent from the floor but was helped by 19 Ohio State turnovers.