Lady Lions throttle Monmouth, improve to 5-0

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Lady Lions put on yet another dominant performance as they cruised to a 100-55 victory over the Monmouth Hawks on Sunday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center.

This win marked the team’s second consecutive 100-point game and tacked on to Penn State’s unblemished 5-0 start to their 2024-25 campaign.

The victory extended Penn State’s non-conference home winning streak to 16 games, a run that dates all the way back to Dec. 21, 2022. Monmouth is still in search of its first win of the season, as they fell to 0-5 and now look to scratch out a win against Sacred Heart later in the week.

The Lady Lions' balanced offense had their way from the opening tip, headlined by standout performances from redshirt sophomore center Gracie Merkle, redshirt sophomore guard Moriah Murray, and freshman guard Talayah Walker.

That opening tip was controlled by Merkle, setting the stage for Penn State.

Jayla Oden kickstarted the scoring with a deep three-pointer, and the Lady Lions’ defense stifled Monmouth early, allowing just a mid-range jumper from the Hawks through the first few minutes.

Murray’s hot start from behind the arc, including back-to-back triples, pushed Penn State to an 18-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second, Penn State looked more aggressive on the offensive end, with Merkle breaking through for the first time with six points in the quarter. Campbell’s flashy reverse layup and a quick 6-0 run highlighted by Gabby Elliott’s steal helped the Lady Lions to pull away from the Eagles.

Murray’s sharpshooting kept Penn State firmly in control, taking a 47-26 lead into halftime.

Murray’s exceptional shooting continued to impress, and her teammates were quick to find her in open spaces. “I love that she’s hunting her shot,” head coach Carolyn Kieger added, showing her confidence in her guard.

Murray, who already has 26 three-pointers on the season, credited her coach’s faith to her ability to land threes. “It really just surprised me when she said she wanted me to take 15 threes a game,” Murray said. “It shows how much trust she has in me.”

The third quarter started with a Merkle layup, followed by a Murray corner three-pointer that continued to deflate Monmouth’s. Penn State’s 11-0 scoring run mid-quarter, capped by contributions from Grace Hall and Walker, extended the lead to 35 points.

In the fourth, the Lady Lions kept their foot on the gas. Merkle’s and-one conversion early in the period set the tone for a quarter of back-and-forth scoring.

Vitoria Santana’s step-back 3-pointer and an and-one layup added to the Lady Lions’ tally, pushing them past the century mark for the second game in a row.

Head coach Carolyn Keiger praised her team’s cohesiveness in her postgame interview. “I just can’t speak enough about this unselfishness of this group,” Keiger said. “The way that we’re sharing the basketball right now is special.”

Penn State’s 22 assists marked the fifth consecutive game in which they surpassed 20 assists.

Keiger also made sure to highlight Walker for her play, stating, “I thought she was phenomenal... her shooting percentage is off the charts. Seven rebounds, tenacious, relentless, and really confident.”

Gracie Merkle’s double-double, which marked her second of the season and 21st of her career, can’t go without mentioning. She amassed 20 points and 12 rebounds, bolstered by six offensive boards and impeccable positioning. “Her hands, her feet are just phenomenal,” Keiger noted.

The Lady Lions continued their forceful start, as they’re now 5-0, as they set their sights on their next non-conference opponent. They’ll take on the Marshall Thundering Herd at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21.

Dominick Pizzelanti is a second-year dual majoring in broadcast journalism and Spanish. To contact him, email dqp5565@psu.edu.