STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Alex Bentley scored 25 points and sparked Penn State with clutch shooting and pressure defense Saturday, lifting the sixth-seeded Lady Lions to a 75-66 win over Dayton in their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2005.
Mia Nickson added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Penn State (25-9), who turned away several second-half runs by the No. 11 seed Flyers — often with Bentley making the big play.
After trailing by 14, Kristin Daugherty drew Dayton (21-12) within 65-63 with 2:59 left in the game. The teams exchanged turnovers, and Bentley hit a layup on the break before Zhaque Gray’s foul-line jumper extended the lead to six.
Playing on its home floor, Penn State got a huge cheer from a crowd filled with mostly blue-and-white supporters.
Daugherty and Patrice Lalor each finished with 18 for the Flyers, who were making their second straight NCAA appearance.
