For at least one half, the Penn State women's basketball team suddenly didn't look as dominant as it usually does on its home court.

In danger of losing only their second home game in Big Ten play, the Lady Lions put together a second half comeback that ultimately gave them the victory over Minnesota, 66-57, last night at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Lady Lions (13-13, 6-7 Big Ten) got off to a lackluster start in the first half, committing three straight offensive turnovers and allowing Minnesota to put up six unanswered points to open the game. Penn State never even led in the first half.

"The first half was just very uncharacteristic of our team," junior guard Kam Gissendanner said.
"We were very slow to just
about everything, taking shots,
defensively. We just had to pick it up, and force the tempo in our favor."

If one play could illustrate the Lady Lions' first half, it came when Penn State was applying full court pressure on Minnesota. Attempting to intercept a Minnesota pass in the Golden Gophers' backcourt, sophomore guard Brianne O'Rourke just missed the ball, but recovered quickly enough to strip Minnesota guard Kelly Roysland. Continuing the Lady Lions' trend of near misses, O'Rourke missed the ensuing lay-up and Minnesota grabbed the rebound.

However, the Golden Gophers (14-13, 6-8) were not so lucky in the second half. Down by five at halftime, the Lady Lions returned to the court with a new intensity. Trailing by as much as 10 in the first half, the second half appeared to be a completely different game. Penn State took their first lead of the game at the 17-minute mark in the second half, and led by as much as 11, and only committed four turnovers.

"We were just playing kind of timid," Gissendanner said. "We just had to be strong with the ball and not hold it over our heads and let them get their hands on it. After we did that, we were much more successful."

Junior guard Kam Gissendanner led the second-half offensive surge for the Lady Lions, finishing with 17 points, after only managing two points in the first.

Gissendanner was followed by senior center Amanda Brown, who had her 11th double-double of the season, posting 14 points and 10 rebounds.

After losing to last-place Northwestern last Sunday, the win last night was an important turnaround for the Lady Lions.

"Early in the season when we allowed losses to affect us too much," head coach Rene Portland said, "it just kept getting more and more and more. We just drew a line in the sand and said forget what we did. [The loss to Northwestern] stunned us from top to bottom. Tonight was let's get back, don't be quitters."