Box Score | Notes| Quotes | Photo Gallery
The Illinois Fighting Illini (17-11, 7-9) used a strong second half performance to defeat their intrastate rival Northwestern (5-25, 2-14) 66-43 in the first round of the 2005 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament. Illinois senior Tiffanie Guthrie provided the Illini with a well-rounded performance by supplying 15 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists to record her third double-double of the year with.
During the teams' first two meetings, Illinois won by a combined 43 points, but in the first half, the Northwestern Wildcats came out on a mission. With a great display of defense, the `Cats opened up a five-point lead with 7:18 remaining in the opening period.
Illinois stayed close and climbed back into the contest on the strength of a stifling full court-press employed during the first 16 minutes of play. Illinois' pressure defense resulted in eight first half turnovers by the Wildcats.
Illinois' Brittany Daugherty hit a jumper as time expired on the first half to give the Illini a 30-26 lead heading into the break.
Despite not scoring in the first 6:15 of the game, Angelina Williams finished the opening session with 11 points and six rebounds. Williams finished the game with a contest-high 20 points.
Northwestern benefited from balanced scoring in the first half. All five starters scored, led by Sarah Kwasinski's eight. She finished the game the lone Wildcat in double-digits with 14 points and added seven boards. Teammate Ifeoma Okonkwo had nine points and five points on the evening.
Tied at 26 late in the first period, on the strength of a 12-0 run that spanned the two halves, Illinois opened up a 12-point lead with just over 15 minutes remaining. In addition to an early second-half scorning run, the Illinois defense tightened the pressure in the second half, limiting Northwestern to just 17-57 shooting, for 30% from the field on the night.
Guthrie came on strong in the second period scoring 10 second-half points. Illinois' Erin Wigley also chipped in 12 points.
In one of the more unusual stats of the night, Illini guard Maggie Acuna totaled eight rebounds, but did not crack the score column.
Illinois moves on to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2001 to face second-seeded and Co-Big Ten Champions Michigan State at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday.
|
|
 |
