ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan Wolverines had an answer for everything the Penn State women’s basketball team threw at them on Sunday, Jeb. 23, in Ann Arbor.
Michigan thwarted every Penn State run in the second half with clutch jump shots and 3-pointers and eventually clinched a 78-68 Big Ten Conference victory before a national TV audience.
The Lady Wolverines edged out to a 9-point, 36-27 lead at halftime, and every time in the third and fourth quarters when PSU cut into the lead, they answered.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, for example, with Michigan ahead 57-48, Penn State’s Gabby Elliott completed a 3-point play that closed the gap to just 6 points.
But Michigan’s Syla Swords immediately responded with a 3-point play of her own, and then a layup by Olivia Olson put the lead at 11.
Michigan didn’t stop there. Two foul shots by Swords and then a layup by Swords kept the Michigan run going until Elliott stopped it with a free throw at the four-minute mark.
But the damage had been done, and Michigan enjoyed a solid 69-54 lead.
Jill Jekot, Shaelyn Steele, Grace Hall, Gracie Merkle, Tamara Johnson and Elliott all scored for the Lions down the stretch, but Michigan invariably kept pace and forged its 19th win of the season against eight losses. The Wolverines are 10-6 in the conference.
For Penn State, Merkle led with 18 points, Elliott scored 15 and Moriah Murray added 12.
The Lions were hurt by 17 turnovers and shot 6-for-19 from beyond the arc and 10-for-17 from the line.
Merkle came through with her fourth straight double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and it was her 22nd game this season in which she scored in double figures.
Penn State still leads the all-time series against Michigan at 32-22.
Penn State is now 10-17 overall this season with Big Ten games against Purdue on Senior Day at the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday, Feb. 27 and at Rutgers on Sunday, March 2.
The Big Ten Tournament is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 5.
