Ralph Russo, AP Sports Writer Ruston, La.
Lisa Shepherd, who had 20 points and five 3-pointers for the Lady Lions, hit the front of the rim with a 30-foot shot at the buzzer.
Maren Walseth had 21 points and 13 rebounds for sixth-seeded Penn State, which went to the Final Four last season.
Tricia Payne scored 15 for the 11th-seeded Lady Frogs in the East Regional game. TCU earned an NCAA bid by winning the Western Athletic Conference tournament for the first time.
Penn State, which trailed by as many as 19 in the first half, tied the score at 72 when Walseth sank one of two free throws with 2:17 remaining.
TCU regained the lead when Payne swished two free throws a minute later, but Shepherd nailed a 3-pointer just seconds later to give the Lady Lions a 75-74 lead.
On the next possession, the 6-foot-2 Safaritova got position down low and spun in a reverse layup to give TCU a 76-75 lead. After Tiffany Evans missed the second of two free throws with five seconds left, Shepherd raced down court but her shot came up just short.