Jan. 13, 2000
Box Score
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In a battle to stand alone on top of the Big Ten
Conference, No. 12 Illinois lost in its only encounter with No.5 Penn State
76-66 at the Bryce Jordan Center Thursday night.
It was the slugfest of the top two Big Ten teams that everyone predicted.
Illinois, now 14-5 and 4-1 in the conference, clawed its way back throughout
the game, only to be answered by Penn State all night. Plagued by foul
problems, Illinois fouled out seniors Susan Blauser and Tauja Catchings
while sophomore Allison Curtin played with four fouls the majority of the
second half. Trailing 42-31 at halftime, the Illini mounted a comeback by
utilizing different defenses on the Lady Lions. Illinois would knot the
game, 48-48, with 14:25 left. PSU, 14-2 on the year and 5-0 in league play,
would not allow Illinois to sustain its momentum and gave Head Coach Rene
Portland her 450th at the school.
"I'm disappointed with the loss, but I liked the way we responded in the
second half," Head Coach Theresa Grentz said. "We're young, but we'll learn
and get ready for the next one."
After trading baskets for most of the first half, Penn State started
breaking away from the Illini, going up 20-14 on a jumper by sophomore
Katrane Carr, who came off the bench for eight points in the half. Paced by
junior Lisa Shepherd's 13 points in the first half, PSU built a 27-18
advantage at 6:47. As she has done all season, Catchings strapped the
Illini on her back and Illinois shrunk the Penn State lead to 27-24. The
Lady Lions responded with a 7-0 spurt, pulling to a 34-24 lead. Taking over
for the Lady Lions, senior Andrea Garner contributed nine points as PSU held
a 42-31 lead at halftime.
The Grentz's gang got rolling in the second half after mixing up their
defense. The Illini
went on 15-6 spurt, tying the game on a layup by freshman Shavonna Hunter.
PSU
responded with a 6-0 run. Illinois would battle back once again as
Catchings knocked down a jumper at 2:57, reducing the lead to 64-61. The
Illini would not score again until 1:36 remaining on a pair of free throws
from Curtin. Penn State sealed the victory by hitting 6-of-8 from the
charity stripe down the stretch.
"Changing defenses caused some problems for them, but we have to execute
offensively," Grentz said. "We are still not where we need to be in that
regard."
Tying Garner's scoring output of 18 points, Catchings not only led the team
in scoring but paced UI in rebounds with 12 caroms. Curtin chipped in 12
points while Hunter added 11.
As a team, Illinois shot 41.3 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from
three-point land. Hitting only 10-of-18 from the line, the Illini shot 55.6
percent. UI outrebounded the Lady Lions 39-36. Illinois committed 20
turnovers and 23 fouls.
The Illini return to action Jan. 17, hosting Michigan at 2 p.m.
