Illinois Women's Gymnastics Coach Lynn Crane was counting on "fresh blood" to carry the Fighting Illini to victory against Penn State on Saturday.

But Crane got a potent dose of her own medicine when Penn State freshman Joanna Knox stepped up as the Lady Lions' lone all-arounder in the team's season opener. In winning the all-around, Knox was awarded the Anne Carr Award, presented for the most inspirational performance at a home meet.

Knox charmed the crowd with electrifying performances in each event. With the poise and maturity of a veteran senior, she helped lead the Lady Lions to a 191.475-187.05 victory over Illinois.

Knox overcame her nerves and turned in stellar routines on the floor (9.725), balance beam (9.625) and vault (9.8). She displayed a confidence that usually is possessed by experienced competitors.

"(Coach Steve Shephard) made me confident in myself, and when he put me up in the lineup it just gave me more confidence," Knox said. "I think it worked out well."

"Worked out well" might have been an understatement. Knox was solid on the vault and the uneven bars, but her routines on the beam and floor put her over the top to win the all-around competition (38.5).

Knox's performance did not surprise Shephard. He said she won the sixth and final spot on the team's uneven bars lineup due to her persistence.

"That's why we recruited her," Shephard added. "(Her high school coaches) called her the raging bull. She's got a lot of determination and once you get her going, there's no stopping her."

Her beam performance was highlighted by an impressive tumbling pass and dismount, but the floor exercise showed the crowd that Knox is for real.

In her favorite event, she used her flair and personality to dominate the field. Her powerful tumbling and graceful dance movements captivated the audience.

"I was really proud of her," Lady Lion Tri-Captain Tracy Kerner said. "She really stepped up and handled the pressure which is not easy to do in collegiate competition."

Knox's final all-around score put her over highly-touted Illinois freshman Stacy Redmond and senior Nicole Ward. But none of this seems to faze the Fallon, Nev., native.

"I'm just really excited," said Knox. "The team competed really well and this was a great first meet to perform in."

Knox hopes to remain consistent throughout the season. She is aiming to build off of her strong start and to keep a level head. But it is not likely that Knox will forget her first college meet.

Shephard described Knox's debut simply:

"She was great everywhere."