Lady Lions Fall To 0-3 in B1G With 91-76 Loss To Illinois
It was more of the same for the listless Lady Lions (3-11, 0-3 B1G) on Sunday in the Bryce Jordan Center, where they lost their fourth straight game to Illinois, 91-76.
Despite the lopsided score, Penn State actually played above its season shooting average in this one. Led by freshman guard Lindsey Spann (20 points) and sophomore guard Sierra Moore (14), the Lions shot 48.4 percent from the floor, compared to their season average of 40.9 percent. Penn State also out-rebounded Illinois, 36-31, the seventh time it’s done so to an opponent this year. The Lions even sliced the Fighting Illini’s 20-point halftime advantage by 10 five minutes into the second half.
Of course, none of that was enough. Illinois (10-4, 1-1) shot three after three to bury Penn State, going 12-for-29 from behind the arc and tying the BJC visitor trey record. The 91 points are the most the Lady Lions have coughed up all season.
The Lions, winners of three straight regular season Big Ten titles, are 0-3 in the Big Ten for the first time since the 2005-06 season. The following is an incredible sight for a program like Penn State’s, which had amassed a 142-81 record in seven prior seasons under coach Coquese Washington:
.@PennStateWBB, 3x defending Big Ten champs, lost for a head-scratching 11th time today, falling to Illinois 91-76. pic.twitter.com/qBzYmsAnd1
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) January 4, 2015
The 15-point loss to Illinois is the best fight the Lions have shown in their trio of B1G games — they’ve gotten obliterated at Michigan, 89-53, and at Iowa, 77-52. Penn State will desperately try to right the ship in its next game, a 9 p.m. road tilt against Wisconsin on Tuesday.
To say the least, Penn State basketball hasn’t had a very encouraging Winter Break.
Image: GoPSUSports
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