Coach Theresa Grentz said her Illinois women’s basketball team underwent “a metamorphosis” last week while they were losing 101-80 at Penn State.
According to Grentz, that’s when her players decided they’d done things their own way long enough and they had might as well listen to their coach and try it her way.
“That’s what I think happened at Penn State–a change for the positive,” Grentz said. “I told my players after the game, `If what I saw tonight is for real, I can’t wait to get to the Big Ten tournament and play these teams again.'”
Illinois, a team without a senior, played its first 25 games without a consistent go-to player reinforcing the coach’s instructions.
Junior Allison Curtin seized that role in the first game after the metamorphosis, Sunday’s 52-50 victory over Michigan State. Then she scored 21 points in Thursday’s victory over Indiana. That win improved the Illini to 14-13 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten.
Against Michigan State, Curtin played 40 minutes and scored 25 points. She led the Illini with eight baskets, four three-point goals, five free throws, seven rebounds and four assists.
“The important thing is how Allison did it,” said Grentz. “She scored very much within the team concept. A player can score 25 points if she takes 25 shots. Allison took only 13 shots.”
Said Spartans coach Joanne McCallie: “Curtin is the heart and soul of her team. She obviously decided it was time to take over the game. She has incredible savvy, intuition, smarts.”
The Illini have talent. Curtin and Shavonna Hunter are quick-handed ball thieves. Dawn Vana and Cindy Dallas have improved as post players. As a duo, Anne O’Neil and Iveta Marcauskaite is on course to outscore any two freshmen teammates in school history.
Still, Grentz realized something was missing in her sixth Illini team.
“It comes from the right side of the brain, the creative side,” said Grentz. “I think they wanted to listen all along. Now, they’ve started.” Illinois play host to Iowa in Sunday’s regular season finale.
A fast finish could earn the Illini an NCAA tournament bid, because eight of the team’s losses were to ranked teams, five to teams ranked among the top five: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 3 UConn, No. 4 Georgia and twice to No. 5 Purdue.
Secret agent: Purdue coach Kristy Curry said there is “no question” that Penn State’s 6-foot freshman Kelly Mazzante is a candidate for Big Ten player of the year. The guard leads the conference with an average of 19 points a game.
“It’s exciting having her in the league,” said Curry. “She was a well-kept secret. “
Mazzante knows how she’s avoided hitting the “wall” that stops or slows many freshmen when they play their 20th game and beyond.
“I realize it’s a long season,” said Mazzante. “So I keep myself hydrated and well rested. The coaches say this is the exciting part of the season, so I rely on my adrenaline in each game.”
Local connections: Danielle McKinley, former Evanston player, ranks No. 2 among the nation’s junior college scorers with a 24-point average for John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill. Logan, led by former Loyola women’s coach Marty Hawkins, ranks No. 18 in the nation at 22-3.