Nov. 17, 2000

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Lisa Shepherd scored 23 points and Kelly Mazzante had 10 of her 12 as No. 10 Penn State took command in the second half of an 81-70 victory Friday night over Villanova.

Mazzante's surge began with a basket after Shepherd scored to break a 63-63 tie - the last of eight in the second half.

Maren Walseth added 15 points for Penn State (2-0), which also got 14 from Katrena Carr. Rashana Barnes had 18 rebounds for the Nittany Lions.

Shepherd put Penn State ahead to stay on a layup with 4:13 let to play. Mazzante then scored six straight points and Shepherd converted a layup for an 8-0 run. Penn State sank 23 of 33 free throws in the second half and hit 28 of 39 for the game.

Villanova (0-1) could get no closer than seven points down the stretch. had 15 points, Brandi Barnes 14, and Katie Davis and Mimi Riley 13 apiece. Davis and Juhline had three 3-pointers each and Villanova converted 7 of 14 for the game.

Villanova went on an 11-3 run in the first five minutes of the second half and regained the lead at 40-38 on Davis' 3-pointer with 15:18 left. Davis hit another less than three minutes later to give Villanova its biggest lead of the second half at 47-44 with 12:58 remaining.

After it got the opening basket of the game, Villanova trailed throughout the first half. Penn State built a 30-23 lead with just over two minutes left before the half, but Villanova rallied within 35-29 at halftime.