Jan. 5, 2003
Box Score
The Illinois women's basketball team looked impressive in an 89-57 rout of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sunday. The Illini shot 50% and forced 29 Wolverine turnovers to runaway with the victory. The win moves the Illini to 10-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten Conference. The Wolverines drop to 9-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
Illinois trailed only once in the contest as Michigan held a 5-3 lead in the early going. However, after a Jere Issenmann three-pointer gave UI an 8-5 lead at the 16:46 mark of the first half, it was all Illinois. After a Michigan basket by Rachael Carney to pull the Wolverines within 24-18 at the 8:21 mark, the Illini would embark on a 16-0 run, sparked by Aminata Yanni, over the next six minutes to blow the game wide open at 40-18.
After an MU free throw, the Illini scored six more unanswered points to finish off the run at 22-1, giving the Illinois a 46-19 lead with 1:04 left in the half. The Orange and Blue had held the Wolverines without a field goal for nearly eight minutes when UM's Sierra Hauser-Price scored just before the break to set the halftime score at 46-21 in favor of the Illini.
Yanni finished the half with 14 points, all of which came in the game breaking run. The Illini defense hounded Michigan to the tune of 17 first-half turnovers and would force 29 for the game.
The second half was more of the same as the Illini quickly pushed the lead to 29 points following another Issenmann three to put UI up 53-24 at the 17:06 mark. Michigan could only get as close as 20, 72-52, at the 6:50 mark, but the Orange and Blue quickly put any hopes of a miracle comeback to rest by reeling off nine straight points to take an 81-52 lead with 3:51 to play. Janelle Hughes capped off the impressive Illini win by nailing the first bucket of her college career, a three-pointer to give Illinois their biggest lead of the game, 89-55 with 1:27 remaining.
Angelina Williams finished as the Illini's leading scorer with 23 points and also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Yanni finished with 22 points and recorded career highs in rebounds (eight) and assists (six). Tiffanie Guthrie (14 points) and Issenmann (12 points) were also in double-figures for the Illini. Tabitha Pool led Michigan with 14 points and nine rebounds.
For the game Illinois was on fire, shooting 50% (31-62) from the field, 56.2% (9-16) from three-point land, and 78.3% (18-23) from the line. Michigan managed to shoot only 38.6% (22-57) from the field, 33.3% (4-12) from behind the arc, and 50% (9-18) from the line.
The Wolverines out-rebounded Illinois 37-35, but the key stat of the game was the 29 turnovers the Illini were able to force with their constant pressure and aggressiveness.
The Illini will hit the road again on Thursday, Jan. 9, when they travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to take on the undefeated and 10th ranked Golden Gophers at 7 p.m. Illinois returns home on Jan. 12 when they host the Wisconsin Badgers at 1:30 p.m. at Assembly Hall.
