Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illini women's basketball continues to fight against some of the best teams in the Big Ten. Thursday night Illinois invited 18th ranked Michigan State to Assembly Hall. The Spartans, fresh off a comeback win over Minnesota, needed every point in a 58-56 win over Illinois.
The Illini out-rebounded one of the top rebounding teams in the Big Ten, 39-25, led by 15 boards from senior Cindy Dallas. Her 12 points completed her 30th double-double of her career and her fifth double-double in her last seven games. Liz Shimek, the Big Ten's second-leading rebounder, had five boards to go along with 12 points. Lindsay Bowen led Michigan State in scoring with 17. Illinois junior Tiffanie Guthrie had 17 points and freshman Erin Wigley added 11.
Illinois controlled most of the first half, jumping out to 7-0 lead, scoring on every possession in the first two minutes. The lead reached 11-3 on Wigley's short jumper and 14-3 on a pair of free throws from Dallas. After Michigan State cut the margin to 16-11 on a triple from Kristin Haynie, Illinois took it biggest lead of the game at 25-13 with 4:28 to play. Michigan State scored 13 of the final 15 points of the first half to pull to within, 27-26.
Again the Illini came out battling, scoring the first basket of the second half on a basket from Cindy Dallas on a feed from Guthrie.
Neither team led by more than five points in the second half and Illinois players came up with some big shots in the second half. Angelina Williams scored a second-chance basket putting the Illini up 43-42 with just under eight minutes to play and Dallas converted a fast break basket to make it 45-42.
The Illini maintained the lead until the final two minutes. A Rene Haynes steal led to a Shimek lay-up making it 54-53 Michigan State. The lead reached 58-53, but the Illini weren't done. Guthrie buried a huge three with just until 30 seconds to play to cut the margin to two.
Michigan State missed two free throws on the subsequent possession with nine seconds to play. Illinois got the rebound and called time-out in its frontcourt with 4.3 seconds left. The Illini had trouble getting off a final shot and a desperation shot missed giving MSU the narrowest of wins.
"There are a lot positive things happening out there," said Illini coach Theresa Grentz. "We out-rebounded one of the top rebounding teams in the Big Ten. The effort is there."
Illinois takes a 7-12 record, 1-7 in the Big Ten into Sunday afternoon's game with Michigan. Dallas enters the contest just 14 rebounds behind Jonelle Polk for the Illini rebounding record. Michigan State, meanwhile, improved to 16-3, 6-2 in the Big Ten.
On Sunday, Illinois will celebrate National Girls/Women in Sport Day with over 500 Girl Scouts expected in attendance.
