Jan. 09, 2014

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Maggie Lucas scored 24 points as No. 14 Penn State beat Illinois 82-76 Thursday night.

Trailing 79-61 with 3:06 remaining, Illinois used a 15-1 run, capped by an Alexis Smith 3-pointer with 23 seconds left, to pull within four, 80-76, but Maggie Lucas hit a pair of free throw 15 seconds later to seal the victory for Penn State (11-3, 2-0 Big Ten).

Dara Taylor's conventional three-point play just over 2 minutes into the second half sparked a 22-5 Penn State run, giving the Lady Lions a 57-43 lead with 11:13 to play. They led by as many as 19.

Jacqui Grant scored 10 of her 15 points in the first half as Illinois took a 32-31 lead into the break.

Ariel Edwards scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Penn State, which overcame 27 turnovers.

Ivory Crawford had 25 points and seven assists for Illinois (7-8, 0-2).