Feb. 10, 2000

Postgame Audio:
? Coach Grentz
? June Olkowski

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois came into Thursday's game with Northwestern winners of 34 of its last 38 games at home. One of the four losses, however, was last year to those same Wildcats. The Illini made sure that history would not repeat itself in an easy 87-58 victory in front of 5,925 at Assembly Hall.

The Illini worked on entry passes to the post over the past week. Once senior Susan Blauser gets the ball on the post, she knows what to do with it. Thursday, Blauser scored 22 points on 11 of 14 shooting. Her partner in crime, the slashing Tauja Catchings, added 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Boards, in general, were hard to come by for Illinois, but for a good reason there weren't many offensive rebound opportunities. That was because the Illini shot 53.1 percent from the field (34 of 64).

Blauser and Curtin did the job on the defensive end. Blauser posted a season-high four blocks giving her 21 blocks in her last eight games. Curtin had five steals, giving her 73 steals for the season, just 22 shy of the Illinois record for steals in a season 95, a record held by Jill Estey. The Illini defense forced 25 turnovers and committed just 12 themselves with 16 assists.

Illinois entered play ranked 11th in the Big Ten in 3-point shooting. Shavonna Hunter (12 points), Kristi Faulkner and Allison Curtin each hit two three-pointers apiece, and the Illini were 6 of 12 for the game as a team. Illinois took control midway through the first half and never looked back. Northwestern took its only lead at 8-6. The Illini went on an 18-4 run at the 10:41 mark of the first half to take a 36-19 lead with 1:40 left. Blauser had eight points and one assist in the run. Illinois led 40-26 at the break.

The Illini buried Northwestern in the opening minutes of the second half, outscoring the Wildcats 11-4 in the first four minutes to take a convincing 51-30 lead. This time Catchings took charge with six points and two assists. Dana Leonard scored 13 points off the bench, one of four Northwestern players in double figures.

Illinois improves to 18-8 overall, 8-4 and in fourth-place in the Big Ten. Northwestern falls to 6-16, 3-7. The Illini travel to Iowa for a 2 p.m. game on Sunday.