Feb. 14, 2017
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Head coach Coquese Washington told the media on Monday afternoon her team needed to have another solid first quarter and be on-point defensively early in the game to have a chance to win another road game, and the Penn State women's basketball team did just that racing out to an early 15-0 lead on its way to an 80-62 victory over Illinois on Tuesday (Feb. 14) inside the State Farm Center.
The Lady Lions (18-8, 8-6 B1G) moved its winning streak to four games, improved to 9-6 all-time on Valentine's Day and, in the process, guaranteed they will not play on the first day at the Big Ten Tournament. The victory is also the fourth-straight over Illinois (8-18, 3-10 B1G).
Four players reached double-figures for Penn State, led by 15 points from junior Lindsey Spann (Laurel, Md.). Sophomore Teniya Page (Chicago, Ill.) and senior Sierra Moore (Hanover, Pa.) both finished with 14 points, while Kaliyah Mitchell (Stone Mountain, Ga.) ended with 11 tallies.
The trio of Mitchell, Moore and Page all ended with nine rebounds -- each narrowly missing double-doubles -- which led the team. As a team, Penn State led on the glass with a season-high 51 rebounds, including the third-straight game with 15-or-more offensive rebounds, to just 28 for Illinois.
Spann led the team in scoring for the sixth time on the season and moved up two spots on the career scoring charts. The junior moved her career total to 1,063 points, passing Ariel Edwards (1,054, 2011-14) and Nancy Kuhl (1,061, 1976-79).
Moving up on a pair of career lists, Page advanced her standings on the career scoring and assists charts, while pulling down a career-best nine rebounds to move past the 200-career rebound mark. With her 14 points, the Chicago, Ill. native pushed her career total to 962 points, passing Dana Eikenberg (952, 1989-92). Her six assists also helped her move up the career charts, giving her 227 helpers in her 56th career game. She passed Carol Fultz (224, 1982-84) for No. 23 on the list.
Turning Point
With 5:35 left in the first quarter
Penn State hit six of its first 10 shots from the field and built a 15-0 lead before the Illini took a timeout with 5:35 to play in the quarter. A Spann 3-pointer forced the Illinois timeout, as Penn State got to 15 points without Illinois cracking the scoreboard. The Illini didn't bring the deficit back to single-digits the rest of the way.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- G Lindsey Spann --Three more 3-pointers helped Spann to a team-high 15 points. Added four rebounds and one assist. Moved into No. 33 on the career scoring list with 1,063 points, passing Ariel Edwards (1,054) and Nancy Kuhl (1,061).
- G Teniya Page --Notched her 10th-straight double-figure scoring game with 14 points and added a career-high nine rebounds, along with six assists.
- G Sierra Moore -- Scored 14 points and added nine rebounds, three assists and two steals.
- Hitting the Boards --Penn State owned the glass with a 51-28 edge on the boards, including 15 offensive rebounds.
Illinois
- G Brandi Beasley --Tied for game-high with 17 points, adding a team-best four assists.
- G Petra Holesinska -- Equaled Beasley for game-high with 17 points -- including five 3-pointers.
By Quarter
First Quarter
Penn State rushed out to an early double-digit advantage thanks to hot shooting and solid rebounding. The Lady Lions hit 6-of-10 shots over the first 4:25 of the first quarter and forced Illinois to take a timeout trailing 15-0 with 5:35 to play. Penn State also held a 19-5 edge on the boards in the opening 10 minutes, including eight offensive rebounds that led to 11 second chance points. Lindsey Spann led Penn State with eight points in the half -- including two 3-pointers.
Penn State 24, at Illinois 8
Second Quarter
Teniya Page scored five of Penn State's 14 points, while four other Lady Lions found the scoring column to help Penn State build a 20-point lead. After Illinois trimmed an 18-point lead to 13 with 3:28 to play, the Lady Lions scored the final seven points of the quarter to enter the break with a 20-point lead. Illinois was able to connect on just four field goals in the quarter, while Penn State hit on just six field goals.
Penn State 38, at Illinois 18
Third Quarter
Illinois came out of the locker room aggressive, getting to the free throw line, which got their offense started, but Penn State continued to score and rebound and maintained the double-digit lead. The Lady Lions pushed the lead to a game-high 25 points on a Jaida Travascio-Green (Lisle, Ill.) 3-pointer just 40 seconds into the quarter, but Illinois wouldn't go away. A Moore layup with 8:17 to play kept the lead at 25 points, 45-20, but Illinois scored 16 of the next 22 points, with a Petra Holesinska 3-pointer with 4:29 to play in the quarter cutting Penn State's lead under 20 points for the first time since the start of the third quarter.
Penn State 63, at Illinois 41
Fourth Quarter
Illinois outscored Penn State, 21-17, in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Lions never saw their lead dip below 13 points. After the Illini pulled the score within 13, 75-62, with 48 seconds left in the game, Penn State scored the final five points, including a Carter 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down with under 10 seconds in the contest. Seven different players reached the scoring column in the final quarter.
Penn State 80, at Illinois 62
Up Next
With just two games remaining after tonight's contest at Illinois, Penn State will tangle with Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. on Wednesday, Feb. 22 before closing out the regular season at home vs. Michigan for the annual Play4Kay benefiting Pink Zone contest on Feb. 26.