Feb. 20, 2011

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Sophomore Karisma Penn scored 21 of her career-high 33 points in the second half and the Illini outscored 11th-ranked Michigan State 31-30 after the intermission, but the hosts couldn't overcome a sluggish first half in a 69-56 loss to the Spartans at Assembly Hall.

Penn hit 14-of-21 from the field (67 percent) and 5-of-7 from the free throw line (71 percent) to eclipse her previous high of 30 points set against Cal Poly in November. The 33 points is the highest total by a player in a Big Ten game this season. The Shaker Heights, Ohio, native also added a game-high 11 rebounds, two steals and one block. The double-double is her Big Ten-leading 16th of the season and the block gives her 66 for the season, moving her to within four of Jenna Smith's school record of 70. It marked Penn's second straight outstanding game against the Spartans, as she had 23 points and 10 rebounds in Illinois' 70-57 loss at MSU on Jan. 2.

The Orange and Blue had six turnovers in the first 3:22 of the game and didn't get their first bucket until the 14:27 mark, but were still with in five, 11-6, after a jumper by sophomore Adrienne GodBold at 11:29 mark. Later in the half, GodBold sparked a 7-0 run that pulled the Illini within 19-15, but MSU countered with a 13-2 run to push lead to 15 and eventually took a 39-25 lead into halftime. Penn had 12 points at the break for the Illini, who shot 42 percent from the field but had 13 turnovers.

In the second half, Illinois used a 10-2 run to get back within six, 45-39, with 13:52 remaining. However, the Spartans responded with a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 15 and the Illini would get no closer than nine the rest of the way.

Turnovers (25) and three-point shooting (0-of-12) are what doomed the Orange and Blue as Michigan State outscored the Illini 26-16 in points off turnovers and shot 8-of-16 from behind the arc for the game.

GodBold finished the game with eight points and four assists, but really made her presence felt on the defensive end with a career-high tying five steals and two blocks. Junior Lydia McCully also finished with eight points and added six rebounds, but also committed seven turnovers. Freshman Centrese McGee helped the Illini force 22 MSU turnovers with four steals and two blocks

A pair of seniors led the Spartans (24-3, 12-2), who clinched at least a share of their first Big Ten since 2004-05. Senior Kalisha Keane matched her total from the Jan. 2 win over Illinois with 27 points, while senior Brittney Thomas scored 19 points and dished out three assists.

With the loss, Illinois has now dropped 10 straight overall and 13 straight against ranked opponents. The last Illini win over a ranked team came against Ohio State in the 2008 Big Ten Tournament.

Today's game was Illinois' fifth annual WBCA Pink Zone game, which raises funds and awareness for breast cancer research. The Illini wore pink uniforms and the Courtsiders booster club held a raffle featuring Illini merchandise to raise money toward finding a cure.

Illinois (7-20, 2-12) has two games left to close the regular season. First, they'll travel to Iowa on Thursday, Feb. 24, for a 7:30 p.m. Big Ten Network game before returning home next Sunday for the home finale against Michigan at 2 p.m. The Illini will then head to the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis March 3-6.