Megan Waytashek and Steph Paluch scored 18 points apiece as South Dakota State defeated No. 12 Penn State 83-79 despite squandering a 20-point halftime lead Wednesday night.
The Jackrabbits (7-4) had a 23-point lead when Paluch opened the second half with a 3 and were up 21 with 14:39 left when a Dara Tayler three-point play started a 10-0 for Penn State. The lead was still in double figures at the 5-minute mark before the Nittany Lions stormed back.
Ariel Edwards, who scored 5 straight points to pull Penn State within 78-77 with 1:19, finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 steals and 3 assists. Maggie Lucas added 20 and Taylor had a career-high 19.
Mariah Clarin had 13 points for SDSU and helped the Jackrabbits, now 3-13 vs. ranked teams, out-rebound Penn St. 53-42. This was the highest-ranked team SDSU has beaten.
