Feb. 26, 2000

The Series

Indiana leads the series 23-18, but the Illini have won seven of the last eight meetings between the two schools.

Illinois posted the most points the Illini have scored against a Big Ten opponent in team history last year in Bloomington with a 104-69 win on Feb. 14, 1999. In that game three Illini players scored 20 points, led by Allison Curtin's 23 points and 20 points apiece from Tauja Catchings and Alicia Sheeler.

Illinois has won the last meeting between the schools by a combined 291-195 (97-65 average)

Illinois began the Big Ten season 7-0 in 1998, but was upset on television in Bloomington, 80-67.

Earlier this year vs. Indiana

Allison Curtin scored 15 points and six rebounds, while sister Suzanne hit a three-pointer late in the game in front of over 1,300 fans from their hometown of Taylorville, Ill. in a 91-61 victory.

Tauja Catchings put on some moves that are worthy of the next level. She finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and four steals and made 8 of 15 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. That came on the heels of a 20-point, eight-rebound, five-assist performance earlier against Iowa. That earned Catchings Big Ten Player of the Week honors.

Susan Blauser added 12 points and a season-best 14 rebounds. Freshman Shavonna Hunter set a career-high with 15 points to go along with six assists. Freshman Kristi Faulkner (10 points) and senior Kylie Martin (10 points) also reached double figures.

Illinois made 19 straight free throws during one stretch and 30 of 35 shots overall from the line. The Illini also out-rebounded the Hoosiers, 46-30.

Indiana freshman Jill Chapman, was mired in foul trouble and finally fouled out with 13 minutes to play.

The senior legacy

The senior class has been a part of the most successful period in Illinois basketball history. In the last four years the Illini have:

• compiled a record of 83-39 (.680).

• won a Big Ten Championship (1997).

• adanced to two Sweet Sixteens.

• qualified for three NCAA Tournaments and are on pace to advance to their fourth.

• defeated 17 ranked teams, including two in the Top Ten.

• received national rankings all four years, reaching as high as No. 5 in the polls in December, 1997 and No. 10 in the country this season.

• competed in front of over 300,000 fans at home.

• put together a string of four straight winning seasons in Big Ten play.

Probable Illini Line-up

Pos. No.    Name              Ht.    Yr.    PPG    RPG    APG
G    4     Shavonna Hunter    5-7    Fr.    8.3    3.0    3.2
G    10    Allison Curtin     5-11   So.    17.5   5.7    2.7
F    33    Susan Blauser      6-2    Sr.    14.3   7.8    1.8
F    12    Tauja Catchings    6-1    Sr.    15.7   8.1    2.3
F    00    Kylie Martin       6-2    Sr.    7.7    4.0    1.4

Reserves

Pos. No.    Name             Ht.    Yr.    PPG    RPG    APG
G    11    Suzanne Curtin    5-8    Fr.    0.8    0.4    0.1
G    22    Kristi Faulkner   5-7    Fr.    5.1    1.0    1.2
F    24    Holly Wilson      6-2    So.    2.4    1.4    0.3
F-C  32    Karen Hagberg     6-3    Fr.    2.8    2.3    0.3
F    52    Dawn Vana         6-2    So.    2.8    2.3    1.0

Moving Up the Ranks

    Career Scoring
1.   Ashley Berggren    2,089    1994-98
2.   Jonelle Polk       1,984    1983-87
3.   Lisa Robinson      1,906    1978-82
9.   Krista Reinking    1,215    1994-98
10.  Liz Bradley        1,192    1984-88
11.  Angie McClellan    1,116    1984-88
12.  Tauja Catchings    1,094    1996-

Career Rebounders

1.    Jonelle Polk       933    1983-87
2.    Lynette Robinson   896    1978-82
3.    Kris Dupps         823    1991-95
6.    Alicia Sheeler     680    1996-99
7.    Mary Pat Travnik   655    1975-79
8.    Sarah Sharp        644    1987-91
9.    Tauja Catchings    629    1996-

Career Assists
1. Jill Estey 550 1989-93 2. Jenny Johnson 507 1984-88 3. Michelle Vossen 391 1980-84 7. Lisa Bradley 317 1984-88 8. Krista Reinking 301 1994-98 9. Tauja Catchings 280 1996- 10. Angie McClellan 274 1984-88 11. Melissa Parker 261 1996-

Career Three-Pointers

1.    Krista Reinking  194    1994-98
2.    Mandy Cunningham 168    1990-94
3.    Melissa Parker   135    1996-
4.    Katie Coleman     86    1996-98
5.    Tonya Booker      52    1990-94
6.    Sarah Sharp       39    1988-91
7.    Allison Curtin    38    1998-

Illinois Surpassed 100,000 in home Attendance
Illinois finished the year by drawing over 100,000 fans to Assembly Hall (104,635 to exact) the most in school history. The old mark was 81, 473 set last year. A look at the progression of fans under Theresa Grentz:

1995 (The year before Grentz):  7,593
1996 (First year under Grentz): 20,927
1997: 52,294
1998: 68,833
1999: 81,473
2000: 98,519 (with two games to play)

Big Ten Tourney Info
The Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament will take place at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Thursday, March 2 through March 5. Single session tickets for all seating locations went on sale Feb. 1. Tickets can be purchased at all TicketMaster ticket centers by calling (317) 239-5151 or ordering on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket information is also available at the Illinois Athletic Ticket Office by calling (217) 333-3471.

Seniors Stepping Up
Since the Ohio State game, seniors Susan Blauser and Tauja Catchings have averaged over eight rebounds a game. In the 12 games, Blauser has corralled 98 boards (8.2 rpg) while Catchings has totaled 103 rebounds (8.6 rpg). Over the past six games, Blauser has blocked at least two shots a game, averaging 2.3 blocks a contest. She has compiled 29 blocks on the year.

Illini in the Big Ten Rankings

Individual Scoring -- Allison Curtin, 3rd (17.3), Tauja Catchings, 4th (16.0), Susan Blauser, 15th (14.0).
Individual Rebounding -- Tauja Catchings, 5th (8.2), Susan Blauser, 8th (7.7).
Individual Field Goal Pct. -- Susan Blauser, 5th (.516), Allison Curtin, 7th (.484), Tauja Catchings, 10th (.448)
Individual Free Throw Pct. -- Allison Curtin, 3rd (.811).
Individual Steals -- Allison Curtin, 3rd (2.74), Shavonna Hunter, 6th (2.44).
Blocked Shots -- Susan Blauser, 6th (1.26)
Team Scoring -- 2nd (76.9)
Team Scoring Defense -- 8th (67.6)
Team Scoring Margin -- 2nd (+9.3)
Team Free Throw Percentage -- 4th (.709)
Team Field Goal Percentage -- 4th (.443)
Team Field Goal Defense -- 3rd (.397)
Team 3-Point Shooting -- 11th (.307)
Team 3-Point Defense -- 3rd (.303)
Team Rebounding Margin -- 9th (+0.9)
Team Steals -- 3rd (10.48)
Turnover Margin -- 2nd (+3.67)
Assist/Turnover Ratio -- 4th (0.79)

Honor Among Thieves
Allison Curtin is a prime example of why records are meant to be broken. Last year, she led the team with 60 steals, breaking the freshman record set by Tauja Catchings. This season, Shavonna Hunter came along and rewrote Curtin's mark with 68 swipes. Curtin still reigns supreme in the steals department with 77 on the season and needs 19 to eclipse Jill Estey's record of 95, which was established during the 1991-92 season.

Indiana Game on ESPN2
The Big Ten announced its two Wild Card TV games the last two Sundays of the regular season. Illinois at Indiana will be aired on ESPN2 beginning at 1 p.m. CST on Feb. 27. Pam Ward and Vera Jones-Soleyn are the announcers.

Illinois and the United Center
The Illinois-Kansas tilt was the first women's basketball game ever played at the United Center.

Positive signs from game with U.S. National team

final score: U.S.A 73, Illinois 49.

Tauja Catchings played well defensively and scored 17 points to go along with 7 rebounds.

Allison Curtin led all scorers on both teams with 19 points.

Illinois held the U.S. team to its third lowest output from the college tour (73). Only Tennessee (64) and Duke (71) allowed fewer points to the U.S. team.

The .410 shooting percentage by the U.S. team is the lowest of the 12-game college tour.

Only Tennessee (a 65-64 winner) and Purdue (a 74-50 loser) kept the game as close as Illinois did. The average margin of victory for the first eleven games was 37, which included 57-point wins over Stephen F. Austin and UCLA.

Illinois played USA within two points in the second half of the game (being outscored only 29-27). That was the closest any of the teams played the USA team in the second half of a game. Only Tennessee (-4) and Stanford (-8) were outscored in single digits in the second half.

Illinois ties free-throw record
The Illini won a physical match with visiting DePaul on Dec. 10, 74-64. The game had 54 fouls (35 on DePaul, 19 on Illinois), 43 turnovers (23 by Illinois) and 63 free throws.

Illinois tied the record for most free throws made in a game (35), and the Illini's 46 free-throw attempts are fourth-best all-time. Illinois also made 35 free throws in a 94-61 win over Illinois State on Nov. 30, 1993 and an 80-64 win over Ohio State on Feb. 13, 1998.

Illinois-Indiana by the numbers
(Big Ten Rank)

                   Illinois     Indiana
Record                 20-9      10-16
AP Ranking             RV          NR
ESPN/USA Today         RV          NR
Points               77.0 (2)    70.0  (5)
Opponent Points      67.7 (8)    66.8  (6)
Rebound Margin       +1.9 (7)    +3.4  (5)
Assists             14.66 (5)    13.72 (7)
Turnovers Margin    +3.31 (3)    +0.54 (6)
Steals              10.24 (3)     7.46 (9)
Field Goal Pct.      .442 (4)     .396 (8)
Opp.Field GoalPct    .400 (3)     .440 (10)
Free Throw .Pct      .713 (4)     .692 (7)
3-Point .Pct         .315 (10)    .319 (9)
Opp. 3-Point .Pct    .300 (3)     .309 (4)

Illini Double-Doubles
Allison Curtin (2 - career 2, this season): 22 points, 11 rebounds vs. Boston College, (11/22/99), 19P, 12R vs. Wisconsin (2/24/00)

Career Milestones approaching
Susan Blauser 35 rebounds for 800, 7assists for 200, 13 blocks for 100 overall, 54 points for 1,000 at Illinois, 48 for 500 rebounds at Illinois, 33 blocks for 100 at Illinois Tauja Catchings needs 64 points for 1,500, 13 rebounds for 800, 9 field goals for 550, 27 assists for 350, 43 steals for school record, 30 blocks for 100 Allison Curtin needs 93 points for 1,000, 10 rebounds for 300, 13 steals for 150, Shavonna Hunter needs 8 assists for 100, 32 steals for 100, Kylie Martin needs 38 points for 700, 6 steals for 100.

Bench Scoring Production

Opp.                  FG-FGA     Pct.
Western Mich.       30 of 112   26.8
Okla. State         16 of 77    20.8
UC-Santa Barbara     7 of 61    11.5
Boston College      11 of 73    15.1
Duquesne            27 of 80    33.8
Notre Dame          15 of 77    19.5
UConn               22 of 79    27.8
Texas               18 of 84    21.4
Illinois State      14 of 80    17.5
DePaul              16 of 74    21.6
Kansas              34 of 61    55.7
UCS-Northridge       8 of 88    9.1
Colorado            18 of 70    25.7
Ohio State          10 of 63    15.9
Georgia             12 of 82    14.6
Wisconsin           15 of 80    18.8
Iowa                 3 of 86    3.5
Indiana             13 of 91    14.3
Penn State           9 of 66    13.6
Michigan            11 of 69    15.9
Purdue               0 of 55    0.0
Mich. State         21 of 82    25.6
Michigan            12 of 70    17.1
Minnesota           17 of 81    21.0
Northwestern        17 of 87    19.5
Iowa                15 of 73    20.5
Ohio State           7 of 70    10.0
Wisconsin           20 of 87    23.0

Schedule one of the toughest
Illinois' schedule is ranked the 19th toughest according to the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). Despite eight losses, the Illini currently sit 21st in the RPI rankings. The Illinois schedule includes two teams from last year's Final Four -- Georgia and Purdue.

Illinois has defeated two of the top five ranked teams in the Associated Press rankings -- No. 3 Georgia and No. 5 Notre Dame. Other Illinois opponents in the Top 25 are No. 1 Connecticut, No. 6 Penn State, No. 12 UC-Santa Barbara, No. 15 Purdue, No. 19 Boston College and No. 23 Kansas.

Illinois is 4-3 vs. ranked teams this season having defeated No. 18 Boston College (73-42), No. 6 Notre Dame (77-67), No. 20 Kansas (61-59), and No. 5 Georgia (82-65). The Illini have lost to No. 14 UC-Santa Barbara (71-61), No. 1 Connecticut (100-79) and No. 5 Penn State (76-66).

Parker, Dallas Suffer Season-Ending Injuries
For the third time, Cindy Dallas has torn her anterior cruciate ligament. An MRI taken on Nov. 24 revealed the tear. For the second straight season, Dallas had been impressive in her early action. Last year she scored 14 points and had eight rebounds against Wagner. She tore her ACL four games into last season.

This year Dallas was 8 of 9 from the field for 22 points in an exhibition win over Viktorija before leaving the game. She sat out the Western Michigan and Oklahoma State games, but was cleared to play vs. UC-Santa Barbara. She reaggravated the injury and an MRI following the game revealed the tear. Dallas had surgery last month and has begun rehabilitation

Melissa Parker was hit in the head twice during the Cal-State Northridge game. She had suffered head injuries during her high school days and was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. After return visits to the neurologist, Parker's condition hadn't improved. The decision was made not to take a chance of returning to the line-up.

Consecutive Conference Winning Years
With a win against Ohio State, Illinois can clinch its fourth consecutive winning season in the Big Ten. Currently Purdue has the longest string with six straight winning years. Wisconsin could make its three straight with wins in its last two games, while Penn State's streak only reaches two.

Illinois in the National Rankings

              AP  USA Today/ESPN
Pre-season    12        12
Nov. 15       13        12
Nov. 22       15        15
Nov. 29       10        13
Dec. 6        17        20
Dec. 13       19        20
Dec. 20       18        20
Dec. 27       17        20
Jan. 2        15        16
Jan. 9        12        13
Jan. 16       13        12
Jan. 23       21        18
Jan. 30       23        21
Feb. 7        RV        25
Feb. 14       RV        RV
Feb. 21       RV        RV

Illinois players earn four BTPOW
Illinois has earned four Big Ten Player of the Week honors this year in women's basketball. Senior Tauja Catchings shared the honor on Jan. 10 with Andrea Garner of Penn State. That was the second time in three weeks that Catchings had earned that distinction.

Catchings totaled 65 points, 29 rebounds, 11 assists and eight steals in victories over Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana. She posted her 18th career double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds at Wisconsin. She then recorded 20 points and eight rebounds against Iowa and 26 points and 8 rebounds vs. Indiana.

The native of Buffalo Grove, Ill., shot 50 percent (22 of 44) from the field and got to the free-throw line 27 times, making 21 (.778) this week.

Catchings earned the honor following a 28-point, 8-rebound performance against Cal State-Northridge (Dec. 21). The 6-2 senior was 9 of 12 from the field, 1 of 1 from three-point land and 9 of 12 from the free-throw line. Catchings also added two assists and two blocks.

Freshman Kristi Faulkner earned BTPOW after scoring 19 points and hitting the game-winning shot in the 61-59 win over 20th-ranked Kansas. With 4:25 remaining in the game, Illinois trailed the Jayhawks, 55-50, but thanks to Faulkner, Illinois went on a 9-0 run. Faulkner hit a driving lay-up then nailed a 22-foot jumper with 3:38 left to tie the game at 55-55.

Although Illinois took a four-point lead with under two minutes to play, the Jayhawks responded by scoring the next two baskets to tie the score. Faulkner came through with a running jumper from nine feet with just 2.7 seconds left.

Faulkner had a career day
-- 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting, including 3 of 6 from three-point range. The native of Glen Ellyn added two assists and three rebounds in a season-high 24 minutes of action. Allison Curtin collected 22 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in the WNIT consolation game win against No. 18 Boston College. Curtin followed that with 16 points in a lopsided victory at Duquesne. To top it all of off, she tallied 28 points, seven rebounds and four steals in the team's upset of No. 6 Notre Dame. She shot 57 percent from the free-throw line for the week and averaged 22 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 3.0 steals per game.

Illinois adds to its 'Player of the Year' reputation
Illinois has added to its status of garnering the Player of the Year in several states. Already this year's squad includes former Illinois Ms. Basketball Tauja Catchings (1996) and Allison Curtin (1997) as well as Gatorade Player of the Year Dawn Vana (1998).

Next year's recruiting class includes Brenda Blackburn, a 6-6 center from Ardmore Okla., Anne O'Neil, a 5-11 guard from Cedar Rapids (Kennedy High School), Iowa, Aminata Yanni, a 6-1 senior forward from Machesney Park, Ill., and Yolanda Smith, a 5-10 guard from Rantoul, Ill., and a sophomore at John A. Logan College. In addition to their athletic accomplishments, the class has also excelled in the classroom.

With O'Neil and Yanni, the Illini have two players ranked in the Top 15 in the country according to girl's basketball experts. O'Neil is ranked the seventh-best senior in the country by the All-Star Girl's Report and Women's Basketball Journal. Basketball News , meanwhile, lists O'Neil No. 12 and Yanni No. 23. Columnist Steve Tucker says that O'Neil and Yanni are each the best prospect in their respective states.

Although Grentz has coached other 6-6 players in the past, the coach calls Blackburn the "most mobile player of that size that she has ever had." Blackburn scored 276 points to go along with 176 rebounds and an incredible 114 blocked shots (or 4.2 per game) and a 59 percent field-goal percentage in 1998-99.

Smith gives Illinois five members of the News-Gazette All-State Team on the roster along with Allison Curtin, Kristi Faulkner, Shavonna Hunter, and Dawn Vana.

Personally speaking...

• Susan Blauser is the fashion queen on the team, while Blauser is second only to Tauja Catchings for the most passionate shopper.

• Tauja Catchings' father, Harvey, played 11 years in the NBA from 1974-85 with Philadelphia, New Jersey, Milwaukee, and the L.A. Clippers.

• Allison and Suzanne Curtin are the second and third oldest of nine children. Older brother, T.J. is 21 and attends Illinois. The other six younger children of Fred and Mary Curtin -- Danny (16), Meredith (14), Candace (12), Keith (8), Joe (6), and Mary Kate (1). The Curtins live on a farm near Stonington, Ill.

• Kristi Faulkner is a fourth generation college athlete. Father, Todd, played shortstop for Princeton from 1967-70. Her grandfather played forward on the basketball team and shortstop on the baseball team for the University of Rochester from 1940-43, and her great-grandfather ran track for the University of Wisconsin.

• Karen Hagberg is a strong environmentalist, majoring in environmental science.

• Dawn Vana was the first female to play varsity baseball in Illinois High School history.

• Holly Wilson's uncle, J.C. Wilson, was a cornerback for the Houston Oilers from 1978-84.

Notes from the Wisconsin game

Dawn Vana had her second-best scoring game of the season with eight points. She scored 12 vs. Texas

Tauja Catchings tied the Illinois record for games played with 117.

The margin of rebounding for Illinois (22) was the most by an Illinois team this year.