Nov. 24, 1999

PITTSBURGH - Over 50 of the 500 residents of Cranberry, Pa. ventured the short drive to Pittsburgh to see one of their favorites daughters in action. With "Lady Berries" shirts making up a good part of the 1,622 fans, Susan Blauser responded with a near double-double and the Illini in turn buried their hosts, Duquesne Dukes, 80-54.

It was to be a homecoming for Pittsburgh native Cindy Dallas as well. Dallas spent the day having an MRI in hopes to find the problem with her ill-fated knee and thus did not that make the trip east.

"I'm really thankful to (Duquesne coach) Dan Durkin for giving Susan a chance to play close to home," said Illinois Head Coach Theresa Grentz.

Grentz put an emphasis on running in preparation for the game and the Illini were able to push the ball up the floor at times with mixed results. "We tried to play up-tempo and did so well in spurts," Grentz noted. "Now we just need to learn how to finish."

The game itself was never in doubt. The Illini jumped to an early 13-0 lead. When Duquesne flirted with getting back into the game, cutting its deficit to 24-14, the Illini scored the next nine points to lead 33-14 with 2:55 left in the first half, and never looked back.

Sophomore Allison Curtin led Illinois in scoring for the third game in a row with 16 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Senior Melissa Parker had her best game of the year with 11 points and made 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Curtin has now scored in double figures in eight of her 10 Illinois starts.

"I've finally found my role," Curtin said of her performance during the first five games of the year. "I think that comes with age. I'm playing a little more relaxed."

Illinois as a whole reverted back to its shooting form, making 7 of 17 from the arc. After hitting 8 of 12 in the season opener, the Illini were 5 of 29 in their three games at Assembly Hall. Besides Parker, Curtin was 2 for 4 from long range.

Outside of the up-tempo style, the other noticeable difference has come in the defense. For the fourth time in five games, the Illini held an opponent under 40 percent from the field. The Dukes shot a dismal .281, including .233 (7 of 30) in the first half. Nikolena Pender, who lit up Cleveland State for 20 points in the Duke's opener, struggled to make just 1 of 15 from the field. The Illini forced 27 turnovers, and no Duquesne players reached double digits. Illinois is now out-scoring its opponents by an average of 80-60 this season.

"We talking to each other on defense," said Grentz of her clubs defensive prowess. "We're putting pressure on the guards on every possession and playing the angles well."

Illinois now looks forward to its home date with No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday, games that players like Curtin live for. "I love playing in the big games," Curtin said. "Those are always the most fun. There's a lot of pressure on every play."

Assessing the early stages of the season Grentz said, "It's Thanksgiving and were already 4-1. Were playing good ball for early in the year. The trademark of this program has been its ability to improve as the season goes on."

By Mike Koon