Nov. 21, 1999
? Box Score
? Postgame Audio
Coach Theresa Grentz,F Susan Blauser,G Allison Curtin,F Tauja Catchings
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - As it turned out the Illini dug themselves a hole too deep to claw out of. No. 13 Illinois spotted No. 14 Cal-Santa Barbara a 15-0 lead, came back to take a brief second-half lead, but fell short to the visiting Gauchos, 71-61, in the Semifinals of the WNIT Sunday.
Illinois meets Boston College in the third-place game at 6 p.m. Monday night. Georgia advanced to the title game against UCSB with a 78-70 win over the Eagles in the day?s other semifinal.
The Illini missed their first 11 field-goal attempts and shot just .310 from the field. Illinois has made just three three-pointers at Assembly Hall this season, going 2 for 11 today.
Along with their shooting woes, Illinois had to fight through some foul trouble. Sophomore Allison Curtin picked up her second four just 2:09 into the game, but still managed to post her first double-double of her career with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Tauja Catchings also reached that mark for the second time this season with 15 points and 11 boards.
Illinois scored its first point at the 13:04 mark of the first half and didn?t make a field goal until the 12:33 mark. Santa Barbara?s Kristi Rohr (16 points, 10 rebounds) scored six of the Gauchos? first 19 points and UCSB bolted to a 19-3 lead.
Much to Illinois? credit, the Illini were able to battle back to within eight at the half at 34-26. Illinois head coach Theresa Grentz brought Curtin back into the game with just over eight minutes to play in the half despite the two fouls, and the sophomore gave her team a much needed boost. Curtin hit a jumper and a three-pointer within 30 seconds time to pull the Illini to within 27-15.
Senior Susan Blauser scored the final six points of the first half for Illinois as the home team sensed some momentum heading into the second half.
After Stacy Clinesmith hit the second of her two three-pointers at the beginning of the second half, the Illini put on an all-out assault. Curtin fed Catchings with a nice cross court pass, who then converted a 12-footer. Curtin broke the defense for a transition basket then converted two free throws before Catchings? lay-up brought Illinois to within 41-39. In all Catchings and Curtin scored 15 of Illinois? first 15 points of the second half as Illinois pulled even twice at 41-41 and 43-43.
Much to Santa Barbara?s credit, the Gauchos hit some big shots in critical situations. Erin Buescher (21 points, 8 rebounds) hit a three-pointer to give UCSB the lead after Illinois had tied.
Illinois took its only lead at 47-46 with 10:34 left, but came up empty on several possessions down the stretch. Santa Barbara outscored Illinois 25-14 to close the game.
Giving up too many offensive rebounds and the foul situation finally did Illinois in. Curtin, Blauser and Catchings, and sophomore reserve Dawn Vana all fouled out, and Cindy Dallas played only five minutes after banging her knee again. That left the daunting task up to Illinois? freshmen, who tallied just seven points after scoring an impressive 30 just six days earlier against Western Michigan.
UCSB came to Champaign with much the same group that nearly upset Illinois two years ago in the NCAA Tournament The Gauchos muscle accounted for 20 offensive rebounds. Illinois? Susan Blauser backed up a 25-point performance against Oklahoma State with 16 points Sunday.
The Illinois-Boston College game tips off a 6 p.m. Monday at Assembly Hall followed 25 minutes later by Georgia and UCSB for the Pre-season WNIT title.
