CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Penn State dropped a resilient road contest at rv Illinois, despite leading after the first and third quarters. In a game of six lead changes and three tie scores, Penn State’s toughness and Gracie Merkle’s double double fell short with a 67-55 final score. The Lady Lions drop to 10-15, 1-13 Big Ten while the Fighting Illini improve to 20-5, 10-4 Big Ten.
The Gracie Merkle and Gabby Elliott combination continued its dominance, with both scoring in double figures for the fifth consecutive game. Merkle produced her second-straight double double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Elliott’s 16 points led PSU on the offensive end for the seventh time this season. As a team, the Lady Lions were consistent in outscoring their opponents in the paint, putting up 34 points to Illinois’ 24. They also dominated the glass, grabbing rebounds at a 43-34 clip.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Despite winning the opening tip off, the Lady Lions were not the first to put points on the board. Illinois sank two free throws for the first points of the game. Neither team could convert on their next two trips down the court until Merkle got the scoring going for PSU with a layup at the rim. The Illini had a response on a fastbreak immediately following and completed the three-point play after a Penn State foul. Merkle added two more for the Lady Lions, but the home team drained their first three of the day on a second chance opportunity. Gabby Elliott found her first points of the game on the next possession, but Illinois had a three pointer as an answer making the score 11-6. A couple of missed opportunities for both squads were broken up by two points from Merkle. Illinois put up a bucket just before the media timeout to extend its lead. Following the break in action, PSU put up two points to Illinois’ four. A 7-0 run led by Moriah Murray tied the game at 17-17 with under a minute remaining. Despite a single free throw from the Illini, PSU had the last answer with a shot from beyond the arc from Gabby Elliott to give the Lady Lions a 20-18 advantage after the first quarter.
Second Quarter
The Fighting Illini put up points on the first possession in the next stanza and got a stop on the defensive end to pull ahead using a three ball on the next trip down the court. Merkle put up two points to send the lead back with the Lady Lions. Despite a stop on defense, PSU could not convert on its next possession. A foul drawn by the Illini sent them back to the line for a pair of free throws which they were unable to sink. Jayla Oden drove to the bucket for the next points but a last second three-point answer from Illinois gave it the advantage back. Oden made another layup after grabbing the offensive rebound and drew a foul on defense to maintain the 26-26 tie. Merkle drained another bucket to pull ahead, but Illinois’ Kendall Bostic knotted the score again. Murray’s jumper on the next trip was followed by a defensive foul by the Lady Lions, allowing the Illini to pull within one. A foul drawn by Illinois on defense gave them the go-ahead points. After neither team added points on their next possessions, Grace Hall drove to the basket for another two points, but Illinois had the response yet again, keeping the lead with the home squad. The Fighting Illini had the final word of the half, leading 35-32 after 20 minutes of play
Third Quarter
Neither team could find a basket to begin the third stanza until a mid-range jumper for the Fighting Illini extended their advantage. Elliott sank her second shot of the night from long range to cut the margin. After no conversions on either end, Illinois drained a long three to extend its lead to five. Another two points from Oden was answered by the same from the Illini on the following play. The team’s traded baskets into the media timeout and Illinois was unable to convert coming out of the break. Elliott’s turnaround jumper and two back-to-back stops on defense made Murray’s second three pointer the go ahead points at 44-42. Another stop on defense gave the ball back to the Lady Lions giving Elliott three free throws of which she made two. Illinois added one more point while Penn State pushed two across to give the Lady Lions a 48-43 lead after the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The Fighting Illini began the final stanza with a 6-0 run to tie the score, with PSU unable to score for the first three minutes. Elliott finally broke the silence with two points, but the Illini had a response with seven more unanswered points to give them a six point lead. Merkle completed a three-point play to draw within two but the home team came back with a 11-0 run into the final minute of the game. Hall sank a pair of free throws to bring the score within 12 but the Illini came out with a 67-55 victory.
POSTGAME NOTES
Penn State at Illinois
February 13, 2025
State Farm Center (Champaign, Ill.)
- This game marked the 59th meeting between the Lady Lions and the Fighting Illini.
- There were six lead changes and three tie scores throughout the contest.
- Merkle produced double figure scoring for the 20th time this season, 43rd of her career and fifth game in a row with 15 points. She also notched her second consecutive double double and 11th of the season.
- Elliott posted her 17th game with 10-or-more points and fifth consecutive. Elliott posted 15 points.
- Penn State outscored Illinois, 34-24, in the paint.
- The Lady Lions outrebounded the Fighting Illini by a 43-34 margin.
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