Patberg and Wise help IU defeat Penn State

Brenna Wise (50) and Bendu Yeaney (1) celebrate with Jaelynn Penn during the Hoosiers’ game against Penn State Monday in Bloomington. Photo credit: IU Athletics

The duo combined for 46 points in the Hoosiers’ 83–75 win.

BLOOMINGTON — Brenna Wise flexed.

As Indiana’s junior forward approached Ali Patberg, who made a layup despite the foul, Wise showed her excitement. Indiana had just reclaimed the lead against Penn State, after all.

She also flexed when Jaelynn Penn scored a layup despite contact.

The Hoosiers had a lot to celebrate in a 83–75 win against Penn State on Monday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Wise played a pivotal role in Indiana’s joyous evening, scoring 20 points, grabbing six rebounds — two offensive — and notching two assists.

About a minute earlier, Wise joyfully jumped twice in the middle of the lane, celebrating Kym Royster’s second-chance hoop. The Hoosiers’ senior forward drew a foul after catching Penn’s airball from behind the arc on the left wing.

At the 2:43 mark of the final period, Wise drew an offensive foul against Penn State’s Teniya Page, her fourth. Wise pumped her first once or twice, skipping happily to midcourt.

That play elicited a technical foul against Penn State coach Coquese Washington. Wise hit the two free throws, which pushed Indiana’s (13–1, 2–0 Big Ten) lead to a game-high nine points, 75–66.

While addressing the media, Patberg credited Wise as the Hoosiers’ most enthusiastic player.

Wise downplayed the praise.

Patberg’s and-1 with 8:35 to play in the final quarter gave Indiana a 62–59 lead. It was the final lead change in a second half that featured eight.

“That was awesome,” Wise said emphasizing the final word; Patberg chuckled. “I mean, that was a strong take to the basket. How do you not get hyped up for that type of play? I would say I’m high-energy, high-motor. I’m just excited for everybody’s success.

“That was huge. That was strong and we needed that (play) at that moment. We talk about energy and changing the game. That was a momentum changer right there. We needed that.”

Added Patberg, “Coach (Teri Moren) always tells us to get excited for one another and Brenna always, always does that. It definitely helps all of us when we give each other, as coaches would say, good juice. Brenna’s probably the best at that.”

“No,” objected Wise, “we feed off each other so it’s not just me.”

At the 7:15 mark of the third quarter, Wise celebrated Royster’s hoop, which broke the game’s eighth tie. (The teams combined for 10; six occurred in the second half.)

Penn converted her and-1 at the 6:17 mark of the third quarter. The Hoosiers’ sophomore guard scored 10 points.

Patberg, meanwhile, overcame discomfort due to a facial fracture, leading all scorers with 26 points. She added eight rebounds — two offensive — and four assists.

The Hoosiers overcame Penn State’s (7–6, 0–2) 21 points in the fourth quarter in part by shooting 13 of 15 from the free-throw line. Indiana finished 31 of 37. Penn State shot 12 of 14 from the charity stripe in the final period.

Wise hit 13 of 14, which means she’s now shooting 91.4 percent (53–58) on the season.

Moren said Patberg played a “tremendous” game despite enduring discomfort one day prior in practice due to a mask she wore. She wears it because she’s “coming off of a little bit of a fracture in that nose and was back and forth whether or not to use the mask. She chose to use it, and so I was a little bit worried if that would have affected her. Obviously it didn’t.”

Patberg scored half of her game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter. She tallied 9 of 18 shooting — including 2 of 5 from behind the arc — and 6 of 9 from the free-throw line. In the final frame, she went 5 of 8 including a 3-pointer and hit two free throws.

“Obviously she can spread you out (defensively),” Moren said. “It was proven time and time and time again that she’s pretty accurate from the three-point line. Her mid-range jump shot is pretty spot on as well.”

Moren credited Patberg’s priorities.

“It was probably smart on her part (to wear the mask) because she had the choice,” Moren said. “Ali’s a competitor. She’s gonna do whatever she has to do in order to help her team. … That’s one of the things Ali does: She puts her teammates first always.”

Page paced Penn State with 24 points. Moren called her a “really good player, a pro and she’s very difficult to guard.” Moren praised Bendu Yeaney “in particular, who had that assignment.”

Page converted all 10 of her free throws.

Aleksa Gulbe scored the Hoosiers’ initial points with 5:38 remaining in the first quarter. The Hoosiers missed their first eight shots and committed four turnovers before scoring.

“We needed,” Moren said, “every point tonight.”