CHAMPAIGN – Four Illini scored in double-figures for the second consecutive game on Tuesday night, led by redshirt senior Kennedy Cattenhead who posted 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting inside State Farm Center. The Western Illinois Leathernecks, however, capitalized from the three-point line and took a 77-67 victory back to Macomb. Junior Alex Wittinger carded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomores Brandi Beasley and Petra Holešínská also scored in double digits. With the loss, the Illini fall to 3-2 on the season.
"I think we gave away too many transition shots and open looks to a team that does that well," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "I thought our execution offensively was good at times and then it dipped later in the game and we gave them second shots. We're not going to wash this away we're going to learn from it. It's one of those things we talked about, we are in a process here. I think that whether you win or lose, you learn from it."
Western Illinois started off on a hot streak, knocking down three consecutive three-pointers to pull ahead to an early lead. Illinois used a 7-0 run to cut into that lead, but the Leathernecks took a 20-14 advantage into the second quarter.
Holešínská started off the second quarter with a triple for the Illini to get the momentum going. Western Illinois responded with a three-pointer of their own, but the Illini went on a 19-0 run to tie the game and pull ahead. Illinois held the Leathernecks without a point for 5:30 in the second frame, and Cattenhead contributed 10 straight points during that time. She led all scorers with 12 points at halftime, and Holešínská was also in double figures for the second consecutive game with 11 points of her own.
Western Illinois closed the half with back-to-back three-pointers, but the Illini took a 38-30 lead into the halftime break. Illinois scored 12 points off of WIU turnovers, and held the Leathernecks without any second chance points before the break.
Western once again took advantage of their three-point shooting after the break, netting five treys in the third quarter to cut into Illinois' advantage. The Leathernecks forced seven Illini turnovers in the quarter, and tied the game with less than a minute left in the period. WIU took a one-point lead thanks to two free throws, but Beasley returned the favor and knocked down two foul shots of her own to put the Illini back on top. She added a jumper with just five seconds on the clock to give the Orange and Blue a 56-55 lead heading into the final period.
Sophomore Courtney Joens posted a team-leading five points in the fourth quarter for the Illini, but the Leathernecks made 12-of-17 from the foul line in the final frame to pull ahead and hold on to the final advantage.
Illinois outrebounded Western Illinois 42-36, and the Illini held the Leathernecks to their lowest shooting percentage of the season (32.2-percent).
The Orange and Blue are set to travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, this week for the New Mexico Thanksgiving Tournament. Illinois will play three games in three days, facing UC Irvine (Nov. 24), Wichita State (Nov. 25) and New Mexico (Nov. 26).
"We get a chance to prove our toughness and bounce back," Fahey said of the upcoming tournament. "It's a busy week of basketball and that's a positive. We don't have to sit on this very long, and hopefully that will move us forward."
Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois women's basketball.
