URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Penn State women's basketball team's three-member sophomore class combined for 52 points to lead the charge in a gutsy 80-76 road win at Illinois in Big Ten action Thursday evening.
Sophomore Shay Hagans scored six points in the final two minutes and freshman Maddie Burke added a dagger of a three-pointer as Penn State turned a one-point disadvantage into a four-point win in the final 2:03.
Hagans finished with a career-best 18 points and five steals in her huge effort. Classmate Makenna Marisa scored a team-best 24 points, while adding six rebounds and four assists. Senior Johnasia Cash recorded her second-straight double-double, and fourth in the last five games, with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Anna Camden added 10 points, while Burke finished with nine.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Penn State's offense was slow to start as the Illini jumped in front 16-7 six minutes into the game. A Cash layup at the 3:14 mark then sparked an 11-2 Penn State streak to close the term as Penn State ended the quarter making 5-of-6 shots from the field to tie the game at 18-all through the first 10 minutes.
- A Marisa three-pointer opened the second quarter to stretch Penn State's run to 14-2, but the Illini battled back with a 9-2 streak to regain the lead at 27-23 four minutes into the stanza. Penn State responded with six-straight points over a 1:23 stretch to jump back in front, 29-27, and force an Illinois timeout with 4:30 left in the first half. The Lady Lions were able to stay on top for the remainder of the half as Penn State took a 33-32 edge into halftime.
- The score was knotted at 37 just under two minutes into the second half before four points from Camden helped Penn State surge ahead with a 9-0 run that gave the Lady Lions a 46-37 lead with 5:37 left on the third-quarter clock. Marisa scored nine of Penn State's final 15 points of the third term and Penn State took its nine-point lead, 61-52, into the final 10 minutes.
- The Illini went 5-for-7 from three-point range in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter to claw back within one at 69-68 with 4:02 to play. Cash made two free throws, but Illinois answered with back-to-back buckets to take a 72-71 with 2:03 left on the clock.
- Penn State's defense stepped up on the next few possessions before Hagans tossed in a layup to give the Lady Lions back the lead. Burke then drained a clutch three-pointer with :33 seconds on the clock to give Penn State a four-point lead at 76-72.
- Illinois made shots down the stretch, but Hagans closed out her big game with a 4-for-4 effort from the charity stripe in the final 26 seconds to seal the 80-76 road victory.
KEY NOTES
- Penn State has now won nine of the last 10 meetings with Illinois.
- Hagans finished with career best marks in both points (18) and steals (5). Her previous career high was 16 points against Rhode Island earlier this season.
- Marisa notched her second-straight and fourth 20-plus point game of the season.
- Cash recorded her fifth-straight double-digit scoring game and 10th of the season.
- Camden turned in her first double-digit effort since this season's Big Ten opener.
- Burke finished with a trio of three-pointers for nine points, while adding a career-best seven rebounds.
- Penn State finished the game shooting 78 percent (14-for-18) from the free throw line.
- The Lady Lions held a 46-34 edge in points in the paint and 20-11 advantage in bench points.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Carolyn Kieger
- "Our composure was the difference tonight. We weathered the storm when they made a run. We stayed in it in the huddle, we took deep breaths, and the team did a great job keeping each other composed. When you do that, great things happen."
- "I thought the sophomores all played phenomenally. Anna Camden's toughness is something she's been working on with our strength coach and our post coach and it definitely showed tonight. Shay Hagans with five steals and phenomenal free throws down the stretch. And then Makenna (Marisa) – once she figures out that no one can guard her she's going to be very scary going downhill and hitting her pull-up."
- "Just overall extremely proud of our fight and our composure, and we needed that one. Very happy for the team."
UP NEXT
- Penn State remains on the road to face Purdue Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.