Dec. 17, 2003
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LAST TIME OUT
Illinois is coming off an 84-41 victory over Pepperdine at the Assembly Hall
on Dec. 14, winning for the third game in a row and reaching the .500 mark.
Illinois held Pepperdine to just 25.7 percent shooting (18-70) and set a
season-best by giving up just 41 points.
Angelina Williams showed her versatility by playing the point for part of
the afternoon then going inside and converting 14 points. Cindy Dallas
simply owned the glass. Dallas had 13 rebounds with over 10 minutes to play
and finished with 14 boards on the afternoon
The Illini forced 22 turnovers for the game, pressuring the Waves out of the
game. Illinois edged Pepperdine on the boards 44-to-42. Pepperdine struggled
from three-point range, going 1 for 20 for the game.
Illinois extended its lead to 46-26 with 15:29 to play to 63-34 with 7:43 to
play to 82-38 with 1:10 left.
ILLINI DEFENSE SETS TONE
The saying goes that if you have a strong defense, you'll be in every game.
That has essentially been the case this year for Illinois. Here some quick
facts on the subject:
The 41 points scored by Pepperdine are the fewest by an Illinois opponent
since giving up 37 to Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in a 95-37 victory on Nov. 28,
1997and the fewest by a Division I school against the Illini since giving up
41 to Arizona on Nov. 28, 1980.
The last three opponents are converting at a mere 26.7 percent clip from
the field. For the season opponents are shooting 36.9 percent and scoring
just 60.8 points per game. Taking out the game against DePaul, and that mark
is at only 32.5 percent and 56 points per game for opponents against
Illinois this season.
Four of Illinois' eight opponents scored 50 points or less -- only one has
eclipsed 70 points.
Illinois ranks second in the Big Ten in field-goal defense (.344) and
leads the league in three-point defense (.245). The Illini also lead the
conference in rebounds (43.9).
GUTHRIE ALL-AROUND PLAYER
Tiffanie Guthrie is a player that can play all five positions. She has
played the point and also played in the post. So far this season, Guthrie
has been Illinois' most complete player. Guthrie leads the Illini in points
(17.0 ppg), rebounds (8.8 rpg), assists (4.3 apg), and steals (2.3), while
ranking second in blocks (0.8)
Guthrie ranks eighth in the Big Ten in scoring and second in the
conference in rebounding, eighth in assists, seventh in steals and 15th in
free-throw percentage.
DALLAS BREAKS SINGLE-GAME FG RECORD, LEADS BIG TEN IN FG PCT.
Cindy Dallas set a new single-game field-goal shooting record by going
10-for-10 from the field. Dallas breaks the record set by Jonelle Polk, who
was 12 for 13 from the field against Indiana on Jan. 30, 1987.
Dallas leads the Big Ten in field-goal percentage at .694 (25 of 36). Over
the last three games, Dallas has made 16 of 21 field goals (.762).
ILLINOIS SCHEDULE STRONG
Illinois has another strong schedule this season:
The WBCA-Summerville RPI listed the Illini's non-conference schedule 11th
nationally heading into the season, while the overall schedule ranked the
eighth-best nationally.
This week eight of Illinois' opponents are ranked in the AP Top 25, while
another, DePaul, is the first team in a list of those schools also receiving
votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
On the slate are 11 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago
-- Alabama State, UC-Santa Barbara, DePaul, Louisiana Tech, Michigan State,
Minnesota, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State and Purdue.
Considering that the Illini play Ohio State, Purdue, and Minnesota twice
makes 14 of the 27 games on the season against teams that qualified for the
NCAA Tourney.
I SAW YOU AT THE (WORLD'S) FAIR
Although Illinois and Alabama State have never met in women's basketball,
their paths crossed last season in Knoxville, Tenn. (the site of the World's
Fair), at the NCAA Sub-Regional. Alabama State opened with top-seeded
Tennessee, while the Illini faced Virginia.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Alabama State comes into the game with a 3-2 mark after nearly upsetting
South Alabama, falling 62-57 on Tuesday night. The Hornets have defeated
Savannah State (50-44), Cal State-Fullerton (65-63), and Bethune-Cookman
(56-42). ASU has also lost to UTEP (62-49).
Crystal Kitt leads the Hornets in scoring at 16.2 points per game.
Alabama State plays games in the 50s and low 60s, averaging 55.4 points
per game, while giving up 54.6 points per game.
Illini Coloring Contest
Kids are reminded to bring a finished entry of the coloring book on Sunday
to the athletic ticket office and receive one free youth admission, Winners
of the contest will also be announced that afternoon.
ABOUT THE LINE-UP
Cindy Dallas made her first start of the season against Illinois State after
missing the first
game following minor knee surgery.
The Illinois State game saw the Illini shift their starting line-up for the
first time this season. Tiffanie Guthrie started the game at the point with
Aminata Yanni and Angelina Williams at the wings and both senior Cindy
Dallas and freshman Erin Wigley in the post. Dallas scored a season-high 21
points and Erin Wigley had a career-best nine rebounds. Angelina Williams
has also played the point.
Point guards Maggie Acuna (18.3) and Janelle Hughes (15.9) and forward
Birttney Daugherty (11.1), also receive double digit minutes.
ATTENTION DISH OWNERS
The Illinois-Minnesota game will be broadcast on FoxSportsNorth on Jan. 15.
That game can be seen in Champaign on satellite.
WIGLEY STRONG OUT OF GATES
Freshman Erin Wigley has been instrumental in the early going, starting the
first eight contests. Wigley is fifth on the Illinois team in scoring (7.4)
and fourth in rebounding (5.8).
Wigley had 14 Oepoints against DePaul.
Dallas HONORED BY Chicago TRiBUNE
Cindy Dallas earned Pre-Season First Team All-Big Ten honors from the
Chicago Tribune. Joining Dallas on the first team are Erika Valek and
Shereka Wright of Purdue, Kelly Mazzante of Penn St. and Lindsey Whalen of
Minnesota.
Moving up the charts....
Several Illinois players are moving up the Illini's career statistical list
this season, most notably Cindy Dallas, who has 791 career rebounds. She
needs 143 to break the Illinois record set by Jonelle Polk that has lasted
for 17 years. Dallas also recorded her 1,000-point in the final game of the
season, just the 15th Illinois player to reach that milestone, and stands
fifth on the all-time steals list with 186 for her career.
Last season Illinois set a school-record by canning 171 three-pointers,
shattering the old mark of 142 form 1996-97 Big Ten championship team. As a
result, several players are moving up career three-point list. Aminata Yanni
(90) is fifth, followed by Jer? Issenmann (8th, 66). Tiffanie Guthrie (41)
and Angelina Williams (37) are 10th and 12th, respectively.
DALLAS TO JOIN ELITE LIST
Cindy Dallas has 1,070 points, 791 rebounds and 186 steals. She is on the
verge of becoming just the sixth Illinois player with 1,000 points and 800
rebounds and would be just the second player in Illinois history with 1,000
points, 800 rebounds and 200 steals. The other player is Tauja Catchings who
had 1,502 points, 825 rebounds and 211 steals.
RECORD FALLS IN OPENER
Illinois led comfortably 52-12 at halftime against Wayne State in the
opener. That tied an Illini record for fewest points by an opposition in
Champaign in school history. Illinois is now 6-3 in openers under Theresa
Grentz.
Grentz Show starts Dec. 19
The new season of the Theresa Grentz Show starts next Sunday at 10 a.m. on
WCIA (Channel 3). The new season features Coach Grentz going on the streets
to get your view on what's in the news and a Tip of the Week from the Coach.
AFTER EXAM SPARK
Illinois players conclude final exams this week and in recent years the
Illini have done very well unleashing all that energy from the end of
finals. The Illini have a 7-1 record under Theresa Grentz in its first game
after final exams. The Illini defeated Illinois State, 76-74 on Dec. 17,
1995; DePaul, 101-86, on Dec. 20, 1997; Florida, 97-77, on Dec. 19, 1998;
Kansas, 61-59, on Dec. 18, 1999; and Missouri the last three years, 92-74 on
Dec. 20, 2000; 74-53, on Dec. 22, 2001; and 70-67 on Dec. 21, 2002. The only
setback during that span is a 63-59 loss to Purdue on Dec. 27, 1996.
KEYSTONE CONNECTION
This year's Illinois team features four players from the state of
Pennsylvania, led by sixth-year senior Cindy Dallas. Dallas graduated from
Schenley High School in Pittsburgh. Another Pittsburgh product, Audrey
Tabon, a forward from Oakland High School, played former WBNA great Suzie
McConnell-Serio. Erin Wigley, who started the first two exhibition games, is
from Moon Township, Pa., just north of the Steel City. Audrey Tabon, who
hails from Waynesboro, Pa., in the south central part of the state, rounds
out those from the Keystone State.
DALLAS GRANTED 6th YEAR
Cindy Dallas was granted a sixth year to complete her four years of
eligibility by the NCAA. Dallas has suffered three ACL injuries, one in high
school and two at Illinois. Dallas played only 48 minutes during her
freshman and sophomore seasons combined all the way back in 1998-99 and
1999-2000, suffering season-ending ACL injuries early in both years. Dallas
has been a force down low, earning second team All-Big Ten honors last year.
This year, Dallas had her "good" knee scoped in October and has been slowly
working her way back. The Illini coaching staff has been careful. Dallas
returned against Louisiana Tech, scoring six points and grabbing five
rebounds in 15 minutes of action.
THE POCKET BOOK
Illinois Head Coach Theresa Grentz is series about raising money for Coaches
vs. Cancer. Each home game she brings an orange "pocket book" to the game
and sets it beside the bench. In the pocket book are brochures for Coaches
vs. Cancer.
Double Trouble
Tiffanie Guthrie had her second career double-double with 23 points and 11
rebounds vs. Louisiana Tech. Also that night Angelina Williams recorded her
first career double-double with 11 points and 13 boards. Guthrie has come
close to repeating that feat with 14 points and nine rebounds vs. Wayne
State and 20 points vs. Louisiana Tech. Guthrie has added double doubles
agaubst Bradley (19 points, 12 rebounds) andPepperdine (18 points, 10
rebounds, 8 assists).
AN ANCHOR ON THE BENCH
New Illinois assistant coach Marsha Frese, who has become a nationally
respected recruiter at Ball State, Minnesota and Maryland, joined the
coaching ranks after three years as a sportscaster. Frese was the first
female sports anchor for KALB-TV in Alexandria, Va. She also served brief
stints as a color analyst for Rice University and Louisiana College radio
broadcasts.
