March 2, 2007
Box Score
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Fourth-seeded Illinois fell to fifth-seeded Penn State, 61-49, Friday evening in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament at Conseco. The Illini never led in the game, and have now failed to advance to the semifinals of the tournament for six straight years.
Illinois (18-11) came out of the gates sluggish, falling behind 11-0 to start the game. The Illini didn't get on the board until Erin Wigley's short jumper at the 15:05 mark. The Illini missed their first six shots and turned the ball over three times before scoring. The Orange and Blue trailed by as many as 12 in three occasions before battling back near the end of the half, when they scored five points in the final 19 seconds to pull with in four.
Jenna Smith hit a lay-up with 19 second left and then Chelsea Gordon got a steal with five seconds remaining, drove the length of the court and drilled a three-pointer from the top-of-the-key at the buzzer to make it 33-29 PSU. More importantly, though, was that it seemed to give Illinois the momentum heading into the break.
But that momentum was quickly wiped away in the second half as the Lady Lions pushed the lead back to eight in the opening two minutes. Illinois hung around, pulling within four points on five different occasions, including 53-49 after a Gordon jumper at the 4:10 mark, but Penn State always had an answer. The Lions scored the final eight points of the game, all from the free throw line to set the final margin at 12, equaling their largest lead of the game. Illinois shot just 23 percent (7-of-30) in the second half.
Illinois got 22 of its 49 points from the bench, including a team-high eight from Rebecca Harris. Five Illini finished the game with six points, Wigley, Smith, Danyel Crutcher, Lacey Simpson and Danielle Gratton. It was the first time in over 12 seasons that no Illini scored in double figures. The last time was back on Jan. 10, 1995 in an 84-47 loss to Alabama. Simpson led the way on the glass, with 11 boards.
Second team All-Big Ten selection Lori Bjork was held to a season-low four points in the game and failed to hit a three-pointer for the first time in 36 games. Her streak of 35 games in a row was the third longest in the nation.
Amada Brown led Penn State with 19 points and 18 rebounds, which was a Big Ten Tournament single game rebounds record. She also had nine turnovers. The Lady Lions, who entered the game last in the conference in threes per game, hit 7-of-14 for the game.
Illinois will now have to wait 10 days, until Monday, March 12, to find out its postseason fate. The NCAA Tournament and WNIT selections are made on the night of the 12th.
