Dec. 8, 2001

Box Score

Chicago, Ill. - Jere Issenmann made one basket the entire game, but she made that one count in the end. Issenmann hit a three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation to tie the score and send it to overtime. From there her teammates took over in a 77-71 OT victory.

Balance was again a key for the Illini who had three players in double figures and ten players in the scoring column. Cindy Dallas, who tallied just six points, was one of the MVPs of the game with career-high 15 rebounds and five steals. Iveta Marcauskaite had 16 points and seven rebounds while Shavonna Hunter added 15 points and a career-best nine assists. Dawn Vana added 15 points and kept her streak of consecutive free throws made alive. Vana made 3 of 3 from the line and is now 18 for 18 for the season.

Illinois (5-2) scored quickly in stretches that helped the Illini overcome a 13-point deficit. Pepperdine shot out to a 10-2 lead in the first four minutes, beating the Illini down the floor in transition. The Illini, who forced 28 turnovers for the game, used some steals to climb to within four points at 15-11. The final bucket in the run came on a Shavonna Hunter driving lay-up.

Pepperdine (3-4) then hit a barrage of three-point shots to jump ahead 29-16 with 5:42 to play in the half. Damaris Hinojosa, who led the Waves with 22 points, hit four treys for the game.

Illinois' zone defense then put the clamps on, holding Pepperdine to just three free throws and no field goals in the next 8:49 as Illinois closed to within 32-29 at the half then took a 35-32 lead three minutes into the second half.

From there the game was a back and forth affair. Illinois led by as many seven at 50-43 thanks to some great minutes from Tiffanie Guthrie. Guthrie hit the second of her two three pointers during the stretch and had seven points and five rebounds for the game. That's when Pepperdine went a 9-0 run to vault in front 52-50. The lead changed hands three times before Pepperdine took a 60-57 lead with 1:51 left.

Iveta Marcauskaite's lay-up brought Illinois back to within one point. The two teams traded stops before a lay-up from Shannon Mayberry (15 points), gave the Waves a three-point on a short jumper in the lane.

That set up the big shot from Issenmann. The freshman took the pass from Vana at the top of the key and buried the shot sending the game into the extra session.

Illinois trailed just once in the overtime after Tamara McDonald hit a trey to make it 69-68 Waves with 1:51 left in the extra session. Marcauskaite, who hit 10 of 12 from the line for the game, nailed two free throws on the next trip to put the Illini ahead for good. The Illini outscored Pepperdine 9-2 to close the game.

Illinois takes a break for finals then plays at Oklahoma on ESPN on Sunday.