Dec. 1, 2002

Box Score

Normal, Ill. - Illinois' full-court game received another positive return on Sunday. The Illini's defense forced 23 turnovers in an impressive 71-46 victory over Illinois State in Normal.

"Our game is 94 feet for 40 minutes," said Illinois Coach Theresa Grentz. "We did a nice job of playing through the defense and dictating tempo. That really helps build their confidence."

The Illini defense didn't allow Illinois State to get into its half-court game in holding the Redbirds scoreless for over five minutes and turning a 6-5 lead into a 19-5 advantage with 9:29 to play in the half. Aminata Yanni and Angelina Williams took advantage of some errant passes and turned them into scores. Williams scored 10 of her 14 points in the first half. Yanni had all six of her points in the opening 20 minutes. Illinois led 40-25 at the half.

Cindy Dallas was relentless on the boards with 16 points and eight rebounds in just 25 minutes of action. With the game well in hand in the second half (The Illini ahead 61-35 with 9:11 left in the game), and four more games this week, Coach Grentz wisely rested Dallas and many of the rest of the regulars during the final eight minutes of the game.

Illinois State's top scorer, Zora Skrabalova, was held scoreless for the first 32 minutes of the game and mired in foul trouble, before scoring 10 points after the game was already decided. The Illini post players did a great job of denying the post.

Tiffanie Guthrie came alive in the second half, scoring 13 of her 16 points in the second half, including making 8 of 10 from the line. As a team the Illini took advantage of great position and had patience in getting to the line twice as many times as their opponent. Illinois was 25 for 32 from the line for the game, including 15 of 16 from the stripe in the second half. Illinois State, meanwhile, made just 10 of 16. The Illini out-rebounded the Redbirds, 45-39.

The defensive effort for Illinois was its best since defeating James Madison, 84-45, last November. Illinois has given up just 111 points combined in its first two contests.

Illinois never led by less then 10 points the final 30 minutes of the game, taking leads of 31-17, 38-24, and 40-25 in the first half.

The Illini then held Illinois State scoreless for the first four-and-a-half minutes of the second half to take firm control of the game. Illinois led 55-32 following a three-point play from Tiffanie Guthrie with 12 minutes to play in the game.

Illinois' freshman got a chance to play some quality minutes with Jessica Wright, Brittney Daugherty, and Janelle Hughes all scoring their first collegiate points.

Illinois is back in action on Monday, hosting St. Francis (Pa.). Tip-off is 7 p.m. at the Assembly Hall.