Makenna Marisa Makes Penn State Basketball History

The Penn State star joins the 2,000-point club as the Lady Lions chase their first NCAA Tournament bid in 10 years.

Author:
Mark Wogenrich
Updated:
Jan 27, 2024 10:37 AM EST
Original:
Jan 26, 2024

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Makenna Marisa has been a Penn State women's basketball warrior for five seasons, starting an astonishing 129 games and leaving only when carried off the court (which she had to be in overtime against Ohio State in December). Marisa now is etching her name in Penn State basketball history while pushing the Lady Lions toward their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2014.

Marisa on Thursday scored 20 points in Penn State's 76-65 victory over Northwestern to join the program's 2,000-point club. Marisa became just the seventh Penn State women's basketball player to score 2,000 career points. She ranks seventh all-time in scoring for Penn State women's basketball.

Further, Marisa has reached a milestone no other Penn State basketball player, male or female, has accomplished. Marisa is the first Penn State player with 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 200 3-pointers and 150 steals. The fifth-year senior guard has been among the most remarkable players in Penn State basketball history for skill and longevity

Marisa had started every game for Penn State over the past three seasons, and the first 10 this year, before sustaining her first significant career injury in the Lady Lions' overtime loss to Ohio State in December. She missed five games before returning in mid-January against Indiana. Marisa (14.9 ppg) is one of six players scoring in double figures and shoots 47.9 per game, ranking 10th in the Big Ten.

"It's a gift to have her back for her fifth year," Penn State women's basketball coach Carolyn Kieger said before the season. "She's everything you could hope for in a student-athlete, and she wants nothing more than to put Penn State back in the NCAA Tournament. I believe her dedication and loyalty to Penn State is going to pay off this season. "

Marisa already has been part of one major Penn State team milestone, when the Lions defeated Nebraska in January for the 1,000th victory in program history. Now, Penn State seeks to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade. Penn State (14-5, 4-3 Big Ten) is 29th in the latest NCAA NET rankings with 10 regular-season games remaining.

The Lady Lions will play five of those games at home, beginning with Sunday's Big Ten game against Maryland at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State also will host its "Return to Rec Hall" game Feb. 22 against Ohio State. Another date to watch: Penn State visits Iowa, and Caitlin Clark on Feb. 8.

"We have a chip on our shoulder this season, a chip to prove to ourselves, our fans, and the country that we belong among the nation's best," Kieger said before the season. "Every year we have been gaining momentum and getting better, and I truly believe this is our year to thrive."