The game wasn’t decided in the final seconds, but the Illinois women’s basketball team once again could not procure a victory in a close game against a conference opponent.

Penn State (14-4, 4-2 Big Ten) defeated the Illini 71-65 at the Assembly Hall on Thursday night.

Illinois (6-13, 0-6) remains winless in the Big Ten and extended its losing streak to six.

“I expected to win this game tonight,” Illinois head coach Jolette Law said. “I’m not dropping my head. We’re not defeated. I’m not one of those coaches that are celebrating moral victories, but I’m still encouraged.”

Illinois led for the majority of the first half due to Amber Moore’s 3-point shooting. The sophomore guard shot a blistering 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, leading the Illini in the first half with 14 points.

“My teammates were finding me on good shots,” Moore said. “My whole thought process was playing defense and helping my team score.”

“Amber could be a pro,” Law said. “I just have to keep pumping confidence into her.”

Moore’s shooting gave Illinois a 29-21 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first half.

But at the 5:14 mark in the half, Moore was hit with her second foul and was forced to the bench for the remainder of the half.

Illinois star forward Karisma Penn joined Moore on the bench with two fouls, forcing bench players into action for the rest of the half.

The Illini offense stagnated when Penn was relegated to the bench with her second foul. Without its two best scorers in Penn and Moore, Illinois struggled to create shots and had even more trouble converting them.

Penn State ended the half on a 16-5 run to claim a 37-34 lead at halftime.

The Nittany Lions never relinquished their halftime lead, starting the second half on an 8-2 run and warding off any Illini run to gain victory.

Illinois was able to force the Nittany Lions into foul trouble but could not capitalize at the free throw line, where the Illini shot 58 percent for the game and made just 12 of 23 attempts in the second half.

“Anytime you play a team like Penn State you must hit free throws, and you can’t shoot 58 percent from the free throw line and expect to win,” Law said. “Free throws are mental focus. As a coach, I have to continue to push them in that area.”

Illinois stayed close to Penn State’s offense in the second half with help from productive bench forward Adrienne GodBold.

GodBold led the Illini in scoring with 19 points and was a key component in getting the Penn State front court into foul trouble.

GodBold was the lone bright spot for Illinois at the free throw line, sinking 7 of her 9 free throw attempts.

“I’m just at the right place at the right time,” GodBold said. “The right assist, the right basket — it just came to me. I didn’t try to force anything.”