RUSTON, La. — All season long the Penn State Lady Lions had a shooter they could count on to produce game in and game out — Kelly Mazzante.

The Big Ten's leading scorer worked her magic by fighting through defenders on a drive to the basket or spotting up to drain a three-point shot. Even with a hand in her face Mazzante could knock down an important shot with a game on the line.

But in the final game of the season for the freshman guard she struggled to make a drive to the basket, receive an outlet pass on a fast break or hit a single three-point shot.

Mazzante had her worst game of the season in the 77-75 loss to Texas Christian on Saturday going 4-13 from the field and making 1-5 three-point shots to tally nine points. She also only added four rebounds and a single steal.

Throughout most of the game Mazzante struggled to hit any shots she took as TCU defenders swarmed around the Co-National Freshman of the Year. Even when she was able to free herself from the defense Mazzante could not make a shot. With 6:14 remaining in the first half Mazzante had a wide open three-point shot that bounced off the back of the rim. She did not score her first point until the 5:09 mark of the first half on a short jump shot.

Mazzante would add two more points in the first half on a steal she reached over her head for and fast break drive.

The second half was not any better for Mazzante as she continued to shoot but could not make anything happen. By the end of the second half she was sitting on the bench as the rest of the Penn State players struggled with their own shooting. Mazzante only played 28 minutes for the Lions, one of her lowest totals since she came off the bench in the first two games.

"I knew during the game I wasn't producing what I should have been and Rene made the decision to go with who was hot," Mazzante said. "In that situation all I could do was cheer and hope next time I could get a chance."

But Mazzante would not have another chance as she sat watching the game slip out of the hands of Penn State. It was the third straight game she had a sub-par scoring and defensive game, the previous two coming in two straight defeats at the hands of Michigan.

In the first round game of the Big Ten Tournament two weeks ago Mazzante only scored 14 points as the Lions lost for the third time in the season to the Wolverines.

"I think teams have her (Mazzante's) number now and come into the game looking for her," Penn State coach Rene Portland said. "It has been a long season for her. She'll get stronger and be ready for next season."

The off-season fast approached the Lions in the final games as they struggled to put together a winning streak heading into post-season play. Mazzante now takes over for graduating seniors Maren Walseth and Lisa Shepherd to help teach another class of five incoming freshmen.

Although the season did not end as successfully as hoped by the young player, Mazzante gained valuable knowledge in what it takes to survive a season and still be successful in the final games.

"It's very upsetting but hopefully we look at this as a learning experience and figure things out from it," Mazzante said. "We didn't lose this game on one shot or one rebound. We didn't do the little things like we did in many games this year."