Feb. 21, 2008
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Jenna Smith poured in 30 points and Lori Bjork became Illinois' all-time three-point leader as the Fighting Illini rolled past Penn State, 69-49, Thursday night at Assembly Hall. Illinois had season-low five turnovers and played stifling defense against the Lady Lions to improve to 15-11 overall and 7-8 in the Big Ten.
Bjork entered the game tied for the UI career three-point field goals record and it only took her 30 seconds to take sole possession of the mark, previously held by Krista Reinking. She drained the first of her four threes with 19:30 left in the first half to break the record and now has 198 career treys in less than three seasons. Reinking's record of 194 had stood for 10 seasons. Bjork finished the night with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from downtown and collected five rebounds and four assists.
The Illini jumped all over the Lady Lions (13-14, 3-11) early, scoring 14 straight points after PSU took a quick 2-0 lead and never letting up. Illinois held the lead the rest of the way, letting the guests get within six at one point before stretching it out to a 13 point lead at the half, 31-18. Smith led the way with 12 point and five boards at the break, as the Illini turned the ball over just twice and held Penn State to 28 percent from the field (8-of-29).
Illinois continued to pull away in the second half, as Smith was nearly unstoppable in the post. The sophomore was 7-of-9 from the field and poured in 18 points after the break, at one point scoring eight consecutive points for the Illini. The closest the Lady Lions got was 11, in the opening minute of the second half, but the Illini never let the guests make run while pushing the lead to as many as 22 late in the game.
The difference in the game was turnovers, as the Illini set a new season-low with just five to Penn State's 14. The Orange and Blue also racked-up 18 assists to PSU's six and had a distinct advantage behind the arc, shooting 36 percent on three-pointers (5-of-14), while holding the Lady Lions to just eight percent (1-of-13).
The win avenged a controversial 49-48 loss to the Lady Lions earlier this year in Happy Valley. That game ended with senior guard Rebecca Harris making a game winning lay-up as time expired, only to see it waved of by a charging call. This time the Illini wouldn't let the game come down to a final possession.
Smith's 30 points were just two off of her career-best of 32 and it marked the second time in the last three game that the sophomore star poured in 30. Harris joined Smith and Bjork in double figures with 11 points, while sophomore Lacey Simpson filled the box score with eight assists, five rebounds, three assists and no turnovers. For the first time this season, all nine active players on the Illini roster scored.
Illinois has the opportunity to move to an even 8-8 in the Big Ten when it hosts Michigan this Sunday, Feb. 24, at 5 p.m. in Assembly Hall. It will be the Illini's second consecutive game nationally televised on the Big Ten Network.
