Ashley Owusu scored 24 points and Peters Township grad Makenna Marisa added 22 as Penn State advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament with a 92-87 win over Mississippi State on Thursday night.
Penn State (22-12) will meet Villanova at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Illinois will meet Washington State in the other semifinal at 5 p.m..
In her final home game at the Bryce Jordan Center, Marisa recorded her 43rd career 20-point game. She added four assists and three rebounds.
Owusu scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter. Alli Campbell added 10 points for the Nittany Lions and Leilani Kapinus had a career-high five blocks. Penn State shot 58% from the floor and 96% from the free throw line.
Jerkaila Jordan scored 36 points for Mississippi State (23-12).
The Nittany Lions’ 22 wins are their most since they had 24 in 2013-14.
