Feb. 4, 2008

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - For the second straight game the Fighting Illini have lived up to their name, making big plays down the stretch and clamping down late defensively in a 66-61 road victory over Michigan at Crisler Arena Monday night. On Thursday night the Illini topped #19 Ohio State in thrilling fashion, and with tonight's win they improve to 13-9 overall and 5-6 in Big Ten play. Michigan (12-9, 5-6) entered the game 8-0 at home.

"We're starting to turn things around," said Illinois head coach Jolette Law. "Everyone is buying in and doing the little things. These last two wins have been total team efforts, and each one, especially this one on the road, gives us more and more confidence."

Trailing 55-50 after a Michigan bucket by Stephany Skrba basket with 8:26 left, the Illini closed the game on a 16-6 run and would allow just one field goal from that point on. A jumper by sophomore Lacey Simpson and back-to-back buckets by sophomore Jenna Smith gave the Illini a 58-57 lead with 4:21 left. Then after Michigan converted it's only field goal in the last eight minutes of the game, a jumper by Skrba with 3:53 remaining, Simpson hit a huge three on the next possession to put the Illini up 61-59.

A pair of free throws by Wolverine Carly Benson tied the game at 61-61 with 2:45 to play, but Illinois would not allow another point the rest of the way. A Simpson free throw at the 1:28 mark gave the Illini the lead for good, and then after forcing a shot clock violation on MU's ensuing possession, a bucket by Smith put the Orange and Blue up three, 64-61, with 37.1 seconds left. Michigan's Carly Phillips missed short jumper on Michigan's next possession, Chelsea Gordon secured the rebound for the Illini and junior Lori Bjork calmly sank two free throws with 11 seconds on the clock to put the game away.

"I think we learned a lot from all the close games earlier in the season," Law said of her team's back-to-back, down-to-the-wire victories. "We've made an effort in practice to put them in different end of game situations and I think that has helped us. When we get to the final two minutes now we call it the `Orange Zone', because it's our time."

For the game Illinois turned the ball over a season-low six times, following up their eight-turnover performance against Ohio State, which was a season-low at the time. The Illini shot 43 percent overall and hit a season-high 10 three-pointers on a school record-tying 26 attempts (39 percent). Overall there were 11 ties and 17 lead changes in the game.

Smith finished 6-of-10 from the field for 16 points and added eight boards, while Bjork nailed four three-pointers on the night to finish with 14 points. Simpson busted out of her offensive slump with 15 points, including 11 in the second half. She had scored just five points in the last six games, but made several key plays down the stretch tonight. Senior Rebecca Harris was also in double figures with 12 points and added three steals.

It was Illinois' seventh straight win over the Wolverines and was the sixth straight for the Illini in Ann Arbor. Michigan shot 51 percent from the field, the highest by a UI opponent this season, but was forced into 14 turnovers by the Illini. Skrba led the Wolverines with 14 points.

Illinois trailed 32-29 at the break after a back-and-forth first half. The Illini jumped out to an early 6-2 lead thanks to back-to-back three-pointers by Bjork, but Michigan stormed right back with a 9-0 run to take a five point lead. Later in the half, the Illini would open up a 24-18 lead behind six straight points by Smith, but the Wolverines closed the half on a 14-4 run to go into the break up three. The Illini shot 39 percent in the first half to Michigan's 54 percent, but nine UM turnovers kept the Illini in the game.

"I'm so proud of my team right now," Law said. "They've been through a lot of adversity this season and have come together. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going from these last two wins."

Illinois will travel to Minnesota Thursday night to face the Gophers at 7 p.m. before returning home on Sunday, Feb. 10, to host Indiana in the second annual "Think Pink" game to promote breast cancer awareness. All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game, which starts at 1 p.m. and will be televised live by the Big Ten Network.