Lady cagers continue Big Ten win streak

By DONNIE COLLINS
Collegian Staff Writer

Just when it looked like the Big Ten had the Penn State women's basketball team figured out, the Lady Lions did what they do best.

They went on a run.

After stumbling to a 1-3 record following seven wins in its first eight games, No. 20 Penn State won its third consecutive Big Ten game yesterday, upending Michigan, 74-66, in Ann Arbor.

Friday, Penn State earned a hard-fought win over upset-minded Iowa, 66-60, at The Bryce Jordan Center.

In both of its weekend wars, Penn State (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten) used a tough pressure defense and opportune scoring spurts on offense to effectively put its opponents down and out.

Against the young Hawkeyes (8-9, 3-4) the Lions were especially good at the times they had to be -- at the end of both halves. After going on a 14-0 run to close the first half, the Lions took a 10-point halftime lead.

Penn State would need similar success in the second half, as an 11-2 run in the closing minutes gave the Lions a lead they would never relinquish.

"(The Lions) did what they should do to a young team," Iowa coach Angie Lee said. "They really mixed it up and threw a lot of different things at us. In the long run, this will be a very healthy game for us."

Despite being locked in a battle with Iowa's Amy Herrig, considered by many to be among the top post players in the Big Ten, Penn State's Andrea Garner dominated.

Last season's Big Ten Tournament Most Valuable Player recipient burned the Iowa frontcourt with 15 first-half points en route to a 21-point, 10-rebound performance. Garner, who grabbed her 600th career rebound against Iowa, was also a factor on the defensive end, recording four steals and three blocked shots.

While Garner was having her way, Herrig posted similar numbers, leading her squad with 19 points and 11 boards.

"It really was a battle between the two post players of both teams," Penn State coach Rene Portland said. "Obviously, Amy (Herrig) came to play, and I think (Garner) counteracted and had a very, very strong game for us. She attacked on offense. She was very solid on defense. So we're very, very pleased with her play."

For Garner, the Iowa game represented a newfound confidence in her role with a team hoping to make a run at a conference championship.

That role, apparently, is that of the team's go-to player.

"Tonight, I felt more comfortable shooting the ball," Garner said. "I did want it in the last two minutes of the game."

Against Michigan, Garner didn't play nearly as big a role.

Plagued by foul trouble throughout the first half, Garner watched from the sideline as the Lions built a 40-31 halftime lead. Despite a series of second-half runs by the Wolverines, the Lions never lost control.

Michigan went on streaks of 12-0, 9-0 and 7-0 in the second half, but got no closer than 70-66 with just over four minutes remaining.

Forward Clara Carter led the Lions with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and guard Chrissy Falcone's nine points off the bench helped Penn State build the first-half lead which would prove to be insurmountable.

"(Garner) picked up three fouls in the first half, and she just wasn't with us tonight," Portland told the Penn State Sports Network. "We weathered the storm, and that's what we have to do on the road."