Lady Lions Come Up Short at Florida State in ACC-Big Ten Challenge

Grant becomes 31st player and 14th junior to reach the 1,000-point plateau TALLAHASSEE, FLA.; December 3, 2008 — Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) scored 13 of her game-high 18 points in the second half, but it was not enough as the Penn State Lady Lions (4-3) dropped a 73-60 decision at Florida State (6-2) Wednesday night in the Second Annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge. With her performance, Grant became the 31st player and just the 14th junior in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau for her career.   Grant led the way for the Lady Lions with her 18 points, four rebounds and two assists, while senior guard Mashea Williams (Erie, Pa.) returned to the lineup after missing five games with a hand injury to tally nine points, three assists and four steals. Senior guard Brianne O'Rourke (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who was saddled with foul trouble for much of the game, chipped in 16 points, two assists and two steals in the loss. Sophomore post Janessa Wolff (Park Rapids, Minn.) also had a solid all-around game for the Lady Lions with five points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals off of the bench.   The Seminoles got on the board first with a three-pointer by Mara Freshour just 17 seconds into the game and added a pair of Jacinta Moore layups around an Evelyn Lewis (Hampton, Va.) free throw to take a 7-1 lead at the 17:30 mark. Following a Meggan Quinn (Red Lion, Pa.) jumper, Florida State scored back-to-back baskets to move ahead 11-3 with 16 minutes left in the half.   Florida State extended its lead to 19-5 just under the midway point of the half as the Lady Lions struggled to control the ball with 11 turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the half. Penn State got a free throw from Renee Womack (Lansdale, Pa.) and a layup from Williams to pull within 11 points, but the 'Noles responded with 15 of the game's next 18 points to put the lead back to 23 points (34-11) with five minutes left in the half.   Williams stopped the FSU run with a layup and the Lady Lions tightened their defense to spark a 15-0 run over the next four minutes and pull within eight points at 34-26 with 57 seconds left. During the run, O'Rourke accounted for three points, Williams had four points and two steals, while Grant added three points and Julia Trogele (Devon, Pa.) chipped in two tallies and a steal. A three-pointer by Freshour at the 39-second mark and a jumper by Grant five seconds later sent the teams into the locker room with Florida State leading 37-28.   O'Rourke had a team-high eight points in the first half, while Williams added seven points, three steals and two assists. Trogele also had a solid opening frame with four points, three rebounds and two steals. The Lady Lions had seven steals off of 13 Florida State turnovers. Click here for the complete story.