UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Cornell women's basketball lost to Penn State 79-48 on Wednesday, December 21. Senior captain Ania McNicholas tallied a team-high 13 points in the outing. The dominant defense of Penn State held the Big Red to shooting 24.1% from the field.

The Nittany Lions were the first on the board with a three, but Summer Parker-Hall started kept the Big Red in the game, tallying the first four Cornell points and drawing two fouls from Penn State starter Ali Brigham. Cornell trailed 8-4 when senior Shannon Mulroy hit a three to bring up a one-point game. The Big Red forced held up the Nittany Lions near half court to force a Penn State timeout with 6:26 remaining in the first. Penn State went on a 7-2 run over the next 3:14 to stretch their lead to 15-9. Cornell would score just two more points to close out the quarter trailing 21-11.

The Lions continued their hot streak to open the second quarter, going on a 6-3 run to lead 27-14 and bring up a Cornell timeout at 7:29. The Nittany Lion attack could not be stopped though, as they continued to build on their lead to force another Cornell timeout at 4:17 when the Big Red trailed 31-16. Penn State allowed just two more points to close out the half, while expanding their lead to 42-18.

Cornell out scored the Lions 7-6 through the first 3:40 of play. The Big Red called timeout at 5:51 after the Lions doubled the Cornell score at 50-25. The timeout all but shifted the games momentum, with Penn State coming out on a 5-2 run before another CU timeout. The second timeout did the trick, sparking an 8-0 run for the Big Red's first chip into the Penn State lead, bringing the deficit back to 20 at 55-35. Penn State called timeout with 1:06 remaining in the quarter, stalling the Cornell run. Cornell trailed 58-35 at the last quarter break.

The fourth quarter was the seal for the Lions, who outscored the Big Red 21-13 in the final quarter of play.

UP NEXT
Cornell women's hoops returns home after a long away game stretch when the team hosts Clarion on Wednesday, December 18. Tip is set for 2 p.m. in Newman Arena at Bartels Hall.