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Sophomore class sparks Lady Lions

From Mirror, wire reports

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Penn State women’s basketball team’s three-member sophomore class combined for 52 points en route to a 80-76 road win at Illinois in Big Ten action Thursday night.

Sophomore Shay Hagans scored six points in the final two minutes and freshman Maddie Burke added a dagger with a 3-pointer as Penn State turned a one-point disadvantage into a four-point win in the final 2:03.

“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,” PSU coach Carolyn Kieger said. “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.”

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.

“Just overall extremely proud of our fight and our composure, and we needed that one. Very happy for the team,” Kieger said. “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.”

The Lady Lions play at Purdue Sunday at 1.

GAME 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 against Rhode Island earlier this season. … Marisa notched her second-straight and fourth 20-plus point game of the season.

PENN STATE (5-7): Camden 5-11 0-1 10, Cash 5-13 4-6 14, Beverley 1-4 0-0 3, Burke 3-8 0-0 9, Marisa 9-16 4-4 24, Garcia 0-0 0-0 0, Hagans 6-12 6-7 18, Sabel 1-6 0-0 2, Staples 0-0 0-0 0, Team 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 30-70 14-18 80

ILLINOIS (2-9): Myles 5-15 1-2 11, Rubin 4-8 2-4 10, Ephraim 1-5 2-2 4, Peebles 7-15 0-0 19, Terry 9-18 1-1 21, Robins 0-0 0-0 0, Amusan 1-1 0-0 2, McQueen 2-6 0-0 6, Nye 1-5 0-0 3, Team 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 30-73 6-9 76

Penn State …………..18 15 28 19 — 80

Illinois…………………18 14 20 24 — 76

3-Point Goals–Penn St. 6-23 (Camden 0-4, Beverley 1-3, Burke 3-7, Marisa 2-4, Hagans 0-2, Sabel 0-3), Illinois 10-21 (Ephraim 0-2, Peebles 5-8, Terry 2-5, McQueen 2-3, Nye 1-3). Assists–Penn St. 15 (Marisa 4), Illinois 18 (Terry 8). Fouled Out–Penn St. Cash, Illinois Terry. Rebounds–Penn St. 43 (Camden 2-5), Illinois 42 (Terry 5-16). Total Fouls–Penn St. 13, Illinois 16. Technical Fouls–None. A–0.

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