When it looked like Wisconsin was about to take control of the game, Penn State guard Tyra Grant took matters into her own hands.

Grant's game-high 28 points, 18 of which were in the second half, paced the Lady Lions to a 70-61 victory yesterday at the Bryce Jordan Center. Grant's domination in the game's final 20 minutes picked up the slack the Badgers created after neutralizing Kam Gissendanner.

Gissendanner was held scoreless in the second half after tallying 16 points in the opening session.

A change in attire from the traditional home whites to a special "THINK PINK" breast cancer awareness uniform didn't affect Grant's consistently stellar performance at the Jordan Center, as she helped the Lady Lions (12-12, 5-6 Big Ten) improve to 10-1 on the home court.

"Kam was just so strong at the beginning of the game, and then Tyra went into her acrobatic things," Penn State head coach Rene Portland said. "The fact that Tyra can hit the threes really gives us a dimension I don't think [Wisconsin knows] how to play."

Grant pumped her fist and pounded her chest after hitting two huge second half triples, keeping a minuscule Lady Lion lead securely in its corner. However, perhaps her biggest impact came when applying a full-court press.

After extending a 52-51 advantage to three with a pair of free throws, Grant forced Badgers point guard Rae Lin D'Alie into a turnover. Her pull-up jumper on the ensuing Penn State possession pushed the lead to five, and Wisconsin (16-8, 5-6 Big Ten) would never get the score within one possession again.

"As long as it helps the team, that's my main goal for that," Grant said. "I just do whatever it takes."

It took a lot from Grant and Gissendanner to guarantee a Penn State victory. Not only did they combine for 16 of Penn State's 22 field goals, but they were asked to attempt the dubious task of guarding Wisconsin's versatile superstar Jolene Anderson.

Anderson garnered team-highs with 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists, but the Lady Lion defense allowed no other Badgers player to crack double figures.

Portland was pleased with how effective the pressure defense proved in the latter stages of the contest. A "Hang Loose" 1-3-1 press forced two consecutive turnovers, and the full-court 1-2-1-1 created problems for D'Alie.

"It really worked," Portland said. "That's a nice thing having in your back pocket going into the postseason."

Anderson said that the Lady Lions didn't do anything unorthodox on the defensive side of the ball, but physical guard play was essential in containing her teammates.

"Kam Gissendanner is probably the strongest guard in the Big Ten," Anderson said. "I'm kinda happy that she's a senior and she's gonna be leaving."

Anderson, a junior, was startled when reminded that Gissendanner has one year of eligibility remaining.

"She's coming back?" Anderson asked.

Notes

Penn State point guard Brianne O'Rourke rebounded from a rough showing at Michigan State to post a season-high 16 points, earning her the praise of Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone.

"I just think Brianne O'Rourke is amazing. I just really like the way she plays," Stone said ... Wisconsin donned white uniforms with pink numbers, and Penn State wore pink jerseys with white digits. Portland joked that O'Rourke blamed one of her turnovers on the unfamiliar jerseys ... Though close the entire way, Wisconsin never led.