A shot to the heart
Lady cagers bow out of tourney

By WILLIAM KALEC
Collegian Staff Writer

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Illinois huddled around center court, jumping up and down in jubilation.

Penn State guard Lisa Shepherd crouched down on her hands and knees, pounding the hardwood floor of the RCA Dome in anger and disappointment.

The Fighting Illini took the victory celebration down a stadium corridor to their lockerroom, screaming and chanting the whole way.

Lady Lion forward Rashana Barnes walked alone -- slowly strutting down the same path, hearing the sounds of victory echo around her.

Illinois lives to fight another day.

Penn State settles for a return trip back to Happy Valley. It must now await its fate concerning seeding in the NCAA Tournament and the possibility of hosting a sub-regional game in The Bryce Jordan Center.

With 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation, Illini guard Tauja Catchings hit a running eight-foot jump shot over a Lion defender's outstretched arms to give Illinois a 77-75 victory against Penn State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament yesterday.

"The play at the end actually was the way we designed it. I couldn't believe (my players)

listened," Illinois coach Theresa Grentz said. "The ball touched two other players' hands and I thought, 'Here we go.' But they got the ball back in (Catchings') hands and she was able to bank it in."

But before Catchings drove the steak through the Lions' heart, Penn State had an opportunity to do the same.

With the game tied at 75, Penn State coach Rene Portland called timeout with 25.8 seconds remaining and 21 seconds left on the shot clock.

Penn State guard Helen Darling drove the lane well before the shot clock was about to expire, forced a shot up and missed. Andrea Garner, who finished with 17 points and six rebounds, snared down the ball and attempted to quickly put up the rebound.

The ball, as well as the game, was stripped out of Garner's hands.

"I was confident that I could guard (Darling)," Illinois guard Allison Curtin said. "I was confident that I could guard her anyway she went, so I wasn't really nervous guarding her."

Grentz followed that reply by explaining how her freshman guard made that remark, ignorant to the reality of how good Darling actually is.

But on this day, Curtin was right on the money.

Darling finished the game with five points and seven turnovers in 30 minutes of action. The Lions' other starting guard, Shepherd, also struggled from the field, shooting 25 percent on both her field goal attempts and 3-point opportunities.

Penn State's only gleam of hope rested in its post players.

With one swoop of her arm, Clara Carter gave Illinois forward Susan Blauser a hint that there would not be any more 32-point nights like she had in January against the Lions.

Just under four minutes into the first half, Blauser raced down court by her lonesome, following a Penn State turnover at the other end. Carter emerged out of nowhere and rejected her shot into the Penn State Pep Band. The senior Penn State forward set the tempo in the paint as Blauser scored only nine points.

Despite the Lions' presence down low, it was their inability to stop Illini guards Curtin and Catchings, who finished with 23 and 19 points respectively, that ultimately sent Penn State back home early.

"Obviously we are extremely disappointed," Portland said. "The game was a little out of control and we didn't rise to the occasion."