Lady Lions Improve to 3-0, beat Kansas for Big Non-Conference Win

The Penn State Lady Lions have defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 91-85 to improve to 3-0 on the season. 

This was a Jayhawks team that was the WNIT champions last season and currently receiving votes in the AP poll. With that being said this is a marquee win for head coach Carolyn Kieger and her team.

“Huge win for our program and for our ladies to have a mature win,” Kieger said. 

MARISA

Makenna Marisa has played a lot of basketball here at the Bryce Jordan Center as a Lady Lion but this might’ve been her best performance especially against a team like Kansas. 

“Makenna Marisa played like the all-american she is tonight,” Kieger said.

Marisa had 34 points on a very efficient 11-18 shooting while also dishing out 7 assists.

“It’s really special to get that win tonight with this team,” Marisa said.

BRIGHAM

Ali Brigham had a tall task guarding Kansas’ Taiyanna Jackson. In the first half, Jackson was a perfect 7-7 from the field but in the final 20 minutes the Jayhwaks center only had 4 points.

“Going into it I know she’s a very great player. She’s big, she’s strong, she’s physical so I knew I had to bring that physicality,” Brigham said.

The transfer from George Washington also added 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks in route to the victory. 

“I think when you put the work in, it starts to pay off,” Brigham said.

BENCH

The Lady Lions bench was huge again in this one where they accumulated 27 points and 14 of those coming from junior transfer Jayla Oden on a perfect 4-4 from three.

“She can score, obviously proved that tonight,” Kieger said.

Kylie Lavelle, Chanaya Pinto and Moriah Murray all played 15+ minutes off the bench and scored in the contest.

“Can’t say enough about our versatility and our depth,” Kieger said.

INJURIES

Starting guard Shay Ciezki went down with an apparent injury in the second half. 

“I do not, nope,” Kieger said regarding an update to Ciezki’s injury. 

WHAT’S NEXT

The Lady Lions will take their first road trip of the season when they travel to Queens, NY to take on the St. John’s Red Storm this Thursday at 7 P.M.