Jan. 22, 2004

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The Fighting Illini dropped a home contest with the Indiana Hoosiers, 63-56, Thursday night at Assembly Hall after leading 31-30 at halftime. Indiana never allowed the Illini to get comfortable on the offensive end as the Hoosiers blocked 11 shots and forced Illinois into 38 percent shooting from the field. The Orange and Blue now own a 7-11 record overall and move to 1-6 in the conference. Indiana improves to 10-7 and 3-3 in conference play.

Cindy Dallas gave her best effort with 20 points and nine rebounds. Dallas is now only 29 rebounds away from Illinois' all-time rebounding record. Angelina Williams had 12 of her 18 points in the first half. The only other Illini to score in double figures was Tiffanie Guthrie with 14 points.

Illinois owned a one point lead at the half as both teams traded leads throughout the first half. Everything seemed to be in place for the Illini to get back in the win column. They shot the ball well in the first frame, going 14-27 from the field for 51 percent. They were forcing Indiana into eight turnovers and had blocked four shots.

Both teams started extremely slow in the second half, but Indiana was the team to find themselves first as they gained a seven point advantage, their largest of the game, midway in the second half. After that point, the Illni never would get within four points as the Hoosiers put the Illini away with strong free throw shooting (13-15) in second half.

Indiana was led by Jenny DeMuth who had 18 points and 8 rebounds. The real difference maker for the Hoosiers might have been, 6-7 cente, Sarah McKay who tallied six blocked shots to go along with 8 points and 11 rebounds. The Hoosiers got a strong effort from point guard Cyndi Valentin, who had 17 points and included 3 of 4 shooting from downtown.

Illinois will take a week off before coming back to the Assembly Hall to face the Michigan State Spartans next Thursday, January 29 at 7 p.m.