Jan. 2, 2008
Box Score
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Illini guard Rebecca Harris hit what she thought was a game-winning lay-up at the buzzer, but was called for an offensive foul instead, giving Penn State a 49-48 victory over Illinois Wednesday night at Bryce Jordan Arena.
The final play came after Penn State's Tyra Grant converted two free throws with 9.9 seconds left to give the Lady Lions the lead. After an Illinois timeout, Harris drove the length of the court and laid the ball in as time expired, but was whistled for a charge against the Lions' Mashea Williams, giving Penn State a controversial win.
Illinois (10-4, 2-1 Big Ten) led 30-24 at halftime, taking-off after Penn State went up by five with just under eight minutes to play. The Illini went on an 8-0 run, capped by a jumper by Jenna Smith, to take a 24-20 lead and the momentum.
The Illini maintained their lead for the opening minutes of the second half after a jumper by Danyel Crutcher made the score 39-33 with 14:30 to play. But the Illini would go cold from there as Penn State responded with an 8-0 run over the next six minutes, taking its first lead of the second half, 41-39, on two free throws by Brianne O'Rourke with 8:21 remaining.
Illinois came roaring back with a three-pointer by Lori Bjork and an old-fashioned three-point play by Chelsea Gordon to give the Illini a 45-41 lead with just over five minutes remaining. Later, a pair of Gordon free throws put the Orange and Blue up 48-45 with just over a minute to play. However, Penn State's Williams and Grant were fouled on consecutive possessions and converted all four free throws, and Illinois failed to convert on its final two possessions to give the Lions the win.
"We were very impatient," Illinois head coach Jolette Law said. "We had open looks and lay-ups, but didn't capitalize. We need to learn how to close-out close games, move on from this and be ready for Indiana."
Bjork led the Illini with 12 points, and hit 3-of-7 from three-point range to move into a tie for second place on the Illinois career three-point field goals list with 168. The junior is 26 behind Krista Reinking's school record of 194.
Sophomore Jenna Smith was double teamed most of the night, but managed to finish with 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks, while frontcourt mate Danyel Crutcher chipped in 10 points and seven boards.
The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than six at a given time and the lead changing hands eight times.
The Fighting Illini held the Penn State (10-4, 1-1 Big Ten) to just 30 percent shooting (15-of-50), but shot only 32 percent themselves (18-of-56), including just 17 percent in the second half (5-of-29) and 20 percent from behind the arc (3-of-15).
Illinois was hoping for its first win in Happy Valley since 1998, but it wasn't meant to be as the Lady Lions improved to 8-0 at home this season.
The Illini will play their second road game of the week on Sunday, Jan. 6, when they travel to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. Illinois' next home game is on Thursday, Jan. 10, against Minnesota at Assembly Hall at 7 p.m.
