Jan 18, 2004

Box Score

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Illini played in front of 13,305, their biggest audience of the season on Sunday and struggled losing to the Penn State Nittany Lions 79-64. Unfortunately, Illinois was only part of the appeal of Sunday's game, as Kelly Mazzante of Penn State needed only nine points to break the Big Ten's all-time scoring mark of 2,594 set by Katie Smith of Ohio State in 1996. Mazzante went on to score 24 points in the game, breaking the record midway in the first half.

Illinois failed to get out of the gates early against the Lions, falling behind by 11 points just five minutes into the game. The Illini like they have done so many times this season fought back and got within six points, 36-30, with 2:30 to play in the half. Penn State led at the break 39-30.

Angelina Williams tied Mazzante for the game-high in points with 24 on 11 of 18 shooting. Senior Cindy Dallas who is nearly the all-time rebound mark, just 41 shy coming into Sunday's game, finished with her sixth double-double of the season and 29th of her career scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The only other Illini in double-figures was Janelle Hughes off the bench who scored 10 points, which included going 2-2 from beyond the arc.

Penn State never allowed the Illini to come within 10 points in the second half, holding off the Illini with free throws (16-20). The Lions shot 23-29 from the line for the game, while the Illini shot just 11 free throws, hitting nine.

Illinois shot 44 percent for the game, which was better than the Lions who shot 41 percent. Penn State took a page out of the Illini's book in applying pressure defensively stealing the ball 16 times and forcing the Orange and Blue into 23 turnovers. Illinois was never able to apply the pressure on defense like they wanted only getting five steals and 11 turnovers.

Trisha Wright and Ashli Schwab were the only other Lions to get in double-figures, each scored 12 points.

Illinois returns home for their only game of the week as they host the Indiana Hoosiers Thursday night at 7 p.m.