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Minnesota edges Penn State women, 89-81
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Penn State forward Nikki Greene tries to elude Minnesota guard Shayne Mullaney and forward Micaella Riche.
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MINNEAPOLIS -- Micaella Riche scored 24 points to help Minnesota beat No. 7 Penn State, 89-81, Thursday night at Williams Arena, preventing the Nittany Lions from clinching the Big Ten regular-season championship outright and ending their six-game winning streak.
Maggie Lucas had 23 points for Penn State (23-4, 13-2), which must play Sunday at second-place and 20th-ranked Nebraska.
If the Nittany Lions lose, they will be co-champions with the Huskers, who barely beat 11th-place Wisconsin, 55-53, earlier Thursday night to keep the race going.
Rachel Banham scored 23 points and Sari Noga went 6 for 6 from 3-point range to finish with 19 points for the Golden Gophers (17-12, 6-9).
Minnesota made 28 of 42 shots from the floor (66.7 percent) and 26 of 31 free throws.
Maggie Lucas led three Penn State players in double digits with 23 points on 10-of-24 shooting but made just 2 of 11 from 3-point range.
Alex Bentley scored 19 points and Nikki Greene added 15 points and 9 rebounds -- 7 offensive -- for the Nittany Lions.
Shayne Mullaney also scored in double figures for Minnesota with 10 points, thanks in large part to a perfect 8 of 8 performance from the free-throw line.
First Published March 1, 2013 12:24 am
