Dec. 30, 2001

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - Illinois is off to a fast start in the Big Ten for the fifth straight year. After a thrilling 85-81 upset at No. 12 Michigan on Friday, the Illini backed up their effort with a 68-53 grind it out win over Northwestern on Sunday.

Illinois Head Coach Theresa Grentz admits that the next game after a big win is always a challenge. While the stats weren't as impressive vs. Northwestern as against Michigan, the bottom line is it goes into the win column.

Illinois' defense continues to be impressive. The Illini held Northwestern to just 28.6 percent shooting in the first half and 35.0 percent for the game, all while forcing 28 turnovers for the third time this season. Illinois also out-rebounded its second straight Big Ten opponent, 45-38.

Cindy Dallas posted her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Northwestern coach June Olkowski told the media afterwards that Dawn Vana was the key to the Illini's success. The senior from Des Plaines, Ill., put up what is becoming Vana-like numbers, which includes a team-best six assists. That went along with her 10 points, six rebounds and three steals.

Shavonna Hunter was again a key component defensively with a season-best six steals. Hunter moved into fourth place on the Illinois all-time steals list now with 187 picks.

Coach Grentz has said time and again that she likes the fact that her team is playing through the defense because that is something you can always count on. Indeed today Illinois shot just 39 percent from the field and made just two three-pointers, but the defense set the tone early and that enabled the Illini to get the win.

Illinois jumped to a 13-3 lead early as Iveta Marcauskaite scored nine of her game-high 17 points. The Wildcats could get no closer than eight points the rest of the way. The Illini led by as many as 14 points in the first half, before taking a 30-18 lead into halftime.

The Illini methodically increased the margin to 47-29 at the 10:58 mark of the second half thanks in part to solid free throw shooting (Illinois was 14-20 for the game). Northwestern never got closer than 13 points after that.

Four Illinois players scored in double figures - Marcauskaite (17), Dallas (13), Hunter (13), and Vana (10). Each game at least one player off the bench puts some impressive numbers as well. Sunday that was Karen Hagberg, who had nine points and six rebounds.

The first-place Illini take a 9-3 overall record into Minneapolis Thursday for a date with the improved Minnesota Golden Gophers. Tip off is 7 p.m.