Lady Lions junior guard Makenna Marisa headlines program’s Big Ten award winners
Penn State women’s basketball had three honorees in Tuesday’s Big Ten awards announcement.
Makenna Marisa was named to the All-Big Ten first team by the coaches and media, Leilani Kapinus was selected to the All-Freshman team by coaches and Kelly Jekot received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Marisa’s consensus selection to the Big Ten first team is Penn State’s 34th first team selection and 66th All-Big Ten selection in program history. She becomes the first Lady Lion since Kamaria McDaniel in 2020 to be named to the All-Big Ten first team. The junior guard averaged 22.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.2 per game in the 2021-2022 regular season. Her 22.5 points per game ranks her second in the Big Ten behind Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (27.5). Marisa ranks seventh in the entire NCAA in scoring.
Kapinus becomes Penn State’s 13th All-Freshman selection in the Big Ten. She’s packed a punch offensively, averaging 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Her biggest impact has come on the defensive end with averages of two steals and 1.1 blocks per game. She’s second in the Big Ten in total blocks (32) and total steals (56) and leads all freshmen in the league in both categories.
Jekot returned to play for the Lady Lions in the 2021-2022 season, following her second season-ending knee injury. The Villanova transfer has played in 27 games this season, averaging 3.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. The sportsmanship award is given to student-athletes at each Big Ten school “who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior,” according to Penn State Athletics. The student-athlete who receives this award must be in good academic standing and have shown strong leadership outside of their athletic achievements.
