CHAMPAIGN – Fighting Illini women's basketball used a dominant second half performance to defeat the Austin Peay Governors, 59-47, on Saturday afternoon. The Orange and Blue improve to 9-4 on the season, extending their winning streak to four games.
Sophomore Brandi Beasley led the way for the Illini, scoring all 16 of her points in the second half. Junior Jaelyne Kirkpatrick also racked up double-figure scoring numbers with a season-best 10 points, while junior Alex Wittinger posted her sixth double-double of the season, recording 10 points and hauling in 11 rebounds. Wittinger also blocked three shots, increasing her career total to 158 and passing Kendra Gantt for fourth on the Illinois career blocked shots list.
The Governors jumped out to a 9-2 lead to open the contest, but Illinois responded with three-pointers from both Ali Andrews and Kirkpatrick to end the quarter and cut the Governors' advantage to just three.
Kirkpatrick continued her scoring for the Illini into the second quarter as she knocked down a layup out of the break to bring Illinois within one of the Governors. The Orange and Blue played tough defense in the second quarter, holding Austin Peay without a field goal for more than five minutes in the period. Austin Peay continued to extend its lead before the halftime break once again, however, but Kirkpatrick combined with redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice to keep the game close. The Governors took a 23-19 lead into the locker room at the half.
"Obviously, our offensive performance in the first half was not where we wanted it to be," Illinois head coach Nancy Fahey said after the game. "We made a couple of adjustments at halftime. What we really needed was the tempo. It was too slow for us in the first half and we have to make teams run into defense, that's what we needed to do."
Kirkpatrick led all scorers with seven first-half points, while Rice added six of her own. The Governors held Illinois to just 26-percent shooting before the break, but Illinois forced nine Austin Peay turnovers in the first half.
Illinois was strong on both ends of the floor in the third quarter, as Kirkpatrick combined with sophomore Petra Holešínská for five-straight points to start the second half and take a quick advantage over Austin Peay. The Governors knocked down two free throws to pull ahead of Illinois once again, but Wittinger knocked down consecutive buckets to put Illinois on top for good. Wittinger scored a team-leading six points in the third quarter, while Beasley and Holešínská each added four. The Orange and Blue also knocked down 6-of-8 from the charity stripe in the third quarter, while shooting 46-percent from the floor. Illinois outscored the Governors 18-9 in the third frame, and held Austin Peay to just 18-percent shooting.
UI continued to fight through the final frame, using a 9-0 run to pull ahead by double digits in the quarter. Beasley led the way for the Illini in the quarter, recording 12 of her 16 total points. The Governors continued to keep the pressure on, but Illinois kept its distance for the 59-47 victory.
Illinois capitalized on the glass, earning 16 second chance points off of 15 offensive rebounds, and the Illini knocked down 13-of-17 free throws. The Orange and Blue held Austin Peay to 30.8-percent shooting overall and scored 17 points off of Governor turnovers.
"We are proud of picking up our ninth win," Fahey said. "I think right now we are taking it game-by-game and hopefully we are not done."
Up next the Illini will travel to Columbia, Missouri to take on the Missouri Tigers on Friday, December 22. It will be the last non-conference matchup of the season for the Orange and Blue. The Illini open Big Ten play at Maryland on December 28 at 5 p.m. CT. Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois women's basketball
Team Notes
- Illinois and Austin Peay met for the first time in program history on Saturday.
- The Illini held the Governors to their fewest points in a game this season. The 47 points is tied for the fewest by an Illinois opponent this season.
- Illinois held Austin Peay to a season-low 31-percent shooting, including a season-low 16 made field goals. The 16 made field goals is a season-low for an Illini opponent.
Individual Notes
- With three blocked shots on Saturday, junior F Alex Wittinger passed Kendra Gantt for fourth place on the Illinois career blocked shots list with 158 blocked shots.
- Wittinger had her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Wittinger's 20 career double-doubles is tied for 12th all-time Illinois' career double-doubles list.
- Junior G Jaelyne Kirkpatrick scored a season-best 10 points, going 4-for-7 from the floor.
- Sophomore G Brandi Beasley scored a team-high 16 points on 5-for-13 shooting.
- Redshirt sophomore G Cierra Rice recorded her first blocked shot of the season.
