Feb 13, 2003
By DAN LEWERENZ
Associated Press Writer
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Jess Brungo scored 23 points and Kelly Mazzante added 16 as 12th-ranked Penn State defeated No. 9 Purdue 80-68 Thursday night.
The Lady Lions won despite a near-perfect game from Purdue's Shereka Wright, who scored 24 points and hit her first 13 shots - seven field goals and six free throws. Wright finished 8-of-13 from the floor and hit all eight of her free throws.
The win gives Penn State (21-5, 11-1 Big Ten) a 2?-game lead over Purdue (19-4, 8-3) in the league standings. Either Purdue or Penn State has won the regular season in each of the last four seasons and six of the last nine.
The Boilermakers pulled within three points three times in the second half, the last time when Mary Jo Noon hit two free throws to make it 59-56 with 11:24 left.
But Jess Strom hit a long 3-pointer and Tanisha Wright scored the next two baskets to start an 11-2 run that put Penn State up 70-58 with 6:19 left.
Tanisha Wright had 15 points for the Lady Lions, and Strom had 14 points and 10 assists.
Erika Valek scored 15 points for Purdue before fouling out with 1:05 left, and Noon scored 11. The Boilermakers hit 26 of 29 free throws, more than double Penn State in both made and attempted.
With 7:49 left in the first half and the score tied at 29, Brungo hit a 3-pointer to start a 7-0 run that put Penn State up for good. The Lady Lions led 44-40 at halftime and never trailed in the second.