Dec. 4, 2002
Final Stats
Another day, another Illinois victory. The Illini, in the midst of five games in eight days, won its third game in the last four days on Wednesday with a victory over the DePaul Blue Demons. The win moves Illinois' record to 4-0, the first time the Illini have started the year with four consecutive victories since opening 6-0 during the 1986-87 season.
Senior Cindy Dallas scored 17 points to pace three Illinois players in double figures. Sophomores Angelina Williams and Tiffanie Guthrie followed with 16 and 13 points, respectively.
Illinois used a 14-0 run late in the first half to go in front 36-24. The Illini never trailed after that. DePaul pulled to within two at 69-67 with under a minute to play, but Illinois' Guthrie came up with a huge steal and a pair of free throws in the final seconds to seal the win.
The Illini out-rebounded their third opponent in four games by a 35-32 margin. Cindy Dallas led the way on the glass for the Orange and Blue with seven boards.
The Illini held DePaul scoreless for over five minutes late in the first half and went on a 14-0 run to take a 36-24 lead. The run started when Brett Leonard nailed her first three-pointer in an Illinois uniform at the 5:07 mark. Karen Hagberg converted a short jumper and Cindy Dallas scored on a rebound basket. Dallas then stole the ball on the press and went in to score. Freshman Janelle Hughes got into the act with a steal and two free throws to close the rally and give the Illini at 10-point advantage at the half, 36-26.
Illinois came into the game tops in the Big Ten in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense. Illinois forced 15 first-half DePaul turnovers while limiting the Blue Demons to 27.3 percent from the field overall and 3 of 15 (20 percent) from the three-point arc.
Although Illinois never lost the lead, DePaul made several charges in the second half. Illinois jumped to a 49-38 lead with 15 minutes to play in the second half, only the to see the lead cut to a precarious 49-46 after an 8-0 DePaul run. The Demons forced three turnovers in the run. The Illini had a season-high 26 turnovers for the game.
Angelina Williams scored 10 of 16 points in the second half. Williams capped an Illinois mini run with basket to make it 56-47 Illinois. DePaul got as close as two at 69-67 with 55 second left a basket from Charlene Smith (12 points), but Guthrie came up with a huge steal with two seconds left and the iced the game with a pair of free throws to account for the final score.
Jenni Dant led DePaul with 15 points followed by Ashley Luke (12), Charlene Smith (12) and Jamie Smith (11).
The Illini are next in action on Saturday and Sunday at the Fiesta Bowl Classic. Illinois plays North Texas at 2 p.m. CST then either Arizona or UC-Riverside on Sunday.
