Alex Bentley, Maggie Lucas lead No. 8 Penn State past Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Penn State coach Coquese Washington

thinks her team is starting to get into a groove.

"I think that we're starting to find our rhythm," Washington

said. "I think at this point we're getting comfortable with our

roles and getting familiar with their teammates and how they're

going to play and what they can expect from each other. I think

that brings a little bit of confidence."

Alex Bentley and Maggie Lucas each scored 20 points to lead No.

8 Penn State to a 76-54 win over Indiana on Thursday night.

Mia Nickson had 13 points and Dara Taylor added 10 for the Lady

Lions (19-3, 9-1 Big Ten), who have won 13 of their last 14 games.

Aulani Sinclair had 21 and Jasmine McGhee had 12 for the

Hoosiers (10-13, 1-9), who have lost eight straight.

The Lady Lions went on a 15-2 run in the second half to go up 18

points on two free throws by Lucas with 11:22 left to play. The

Lady Lions took a 41-34 lead on baskets by Bentley and Taylor after

the Hoosiers got within three at the start of the second half.

It wasn't all that easy, though. It took a while for the Lady

Lions to get rolling against the Hoosiers.

"There were so many whistles, both teams were in the bonus

within like 12 minutes of each half," Washington said. "It was

really hard to get into a rhythm offensively for us."

It wasn't enough to hold the Lady Lions back, though.

Sinclair and McGhee scored right away in the second half to get

within three, 37-34, before the Lady Lions pulled away.

Chaplin scored for the Hoosiers to make it 41-36 and then

Bentley hit a 3-pointer to spark the second half run for Penn

State.

The Hoosiers missed a shot and then Bentley made two free

throws, Lucas hit a free throw and two other baskets and Taylor

scored in the run.

"There were too many turnovers that led to easy points,"

Indiana coach Curt Miller said. "And then the rebound

differential."

The Lady Lions scored 25 points off Indiana's 20 turnovers. And

the Lady Lions had their way with the Hoosiers on the glass,

outrebounding Indiana 54-32 and grabbed 23 offensive rebounds.

Penn State went on a 8-0 run late in the second half to seal the

game.

"There's a lot of individuals that are going to play beyond

college and there's a lot of WNBA players on that roster," Indiana

coach Curt Miller said. "But with that said, I thought we competed

and I'm very proud of our team."