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Maddie Burke’s 7 treys not enough for Penn State women’s basketball

STATE COLLEGE — Freshman Maddie Burke drilled seven 3-pointers and graduate student Kelly Jekot recorded a double-double, but the Penn State women’s basketball team couldn’t slow down the nation’s second-best scoring offense as No. 14 Maryland claimed a 96-82 victory in Big Ten action on Thursday at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Burke finished with a career-best 24 points and was 7 for 14 from 3-point range. Jekot tallied 23 points and 10 rebounds and was a perfect 10 for 10 from the free throw line. Senior Johnasia Cash rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points.

For Jekot, it’s her third double-double this year and second 20-plus point game.

“I want to obviously tip my hat to Maryland. They’re a phenomenal offensive team that shares the ball really well,” Penn State coach Carolyn Kieger said. “It was good test for us to play a team that plays the pace and values the basketball the way that we’re aspiring to do here at Penn State.”

Both teams spent the first quarter shaking off a bit of offensive rust as Maryland and Penn State shot a combined 30.7% (12 for 39) from the field in the back-and-forth term. Burke hit two three-pointers in the opening 10 minutes to lead Penn State as the Terps took a 16-15 through the first quarter.

Maryland surged ahead 22-16 two minutes into the second quarter, but Penn State responded with a 14-9 streak over the next 3:12 with the help of seven points from Jekot that pulled PSU within 31-30 halfway through the term.

The Terps stretched their lead to 57-44 four minutes into the second half to force a Penn State timeout at the 5:55 mark. Six points from Burke helped Penn State claw back with an 8-3 run to pull the Nittany Lions back within single digits at 60-52 two minutes later. Back-to-back layups from sophomore Anna Camden had Penn State within seven in the final seconds of the third quarter.

“We’re taking baby steps and we’re getting better every day, but we need to start taking giant leaps versus little shuffle steps,” Kieger said. “I was really proud of certain moments tonight, and then other moments we have to get tougher, bear down and grit our teeth, win those 50-50 balls, make that tough play and have that lion mentality.”

No. 14 Maryland 96, Penn St. 82

MARYLAND (6-1)

Bibby 4-14 3-4 13, Collins 3-8 2-2 8, Benzan 3-9 0-0 7, Miller 5-12 7-8 17, Owusu 15-22 3-6 34, Masonius 5-7 1-2 11, Lewis 3-4 0-0 6, Team 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 38-76 16-22 96

PENN ST. (3-3)

Camden 2-3 0-0 4, Cash 5-11 1-4 11, Jekot 6-13 10-10 23, Marisa 3-11 0-0 7, Sabel 2-8 1-2 6, Beverley 1-1 0-0 3, Hagans 0-0 0-0 0, Thornton 1-4 2-2 4, Burke 8-16 1-1 24, Team 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 28-67 15-19 82

Maryland 16 32 21 27 — 96

Penn St. 15 24 21 22 — 82

3-Point Goals–Maryland 4-19 (Bibby 2-8, Collins 0-1, Benzan 1-4, Miller 0-3, Owusu 1-2, Lewis 0-1), Penn St. 11-23 (Jekot 1-3, Marisa 1-2, Sabel 1-3, Beverley 1-1, Burke 7-14). Assists–Maryland 21 (Collins 4), Penn St. 17 (Marisa 5). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–Maryland 42 (Bibby 5-9), Penn St. 38 (Team 7-9). Total Fouls–Maryland 18, Penn St. 20. Technical Fouls–None. A–140.

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