Feb. 15, 2004

Final Stats

Champaign, Ill. - Tiffanie Guthrie, the Big Ten co-Player of the Week, scored 24 points, but it was not enough to lift the Illinois to victory as the 10th rated Golden Gophers downed the Fighting Illini, 63-54 in front of 3,108 fans at Assembly Hall. Illinois entered the game riding a three-game winning streak

Illinois (10-13, 4-8), who now faces a tough road trip, couldn't push their win streak to four Sunday. The Illini shot a dismal 28 percent, going (17-61) from the field. Minnesota shot 45 percent from the field but never was able to securely put the Illini away. Illinois held a one-point lead, 33-32 midway in the second half before Minnesota responded with two crucial three-point buckets to push the lead to five. The Gophers wouldn't look back after that point, as they held the slim lead throughout the rest of the game.

Angelina Williams was the only other Illini to get in double figures with 12 points. Cindy Dallas struggled on maintained her rebounding average grabbing 10 on the day. Guthrie, who led the Illini in scoring also led with 12 rebounds as well.

Minnesota (19-4, 8-4) who was without their leading scoring Lindsay Whalen due to a broken hand, responded with a balanced attack on the perimeter. Starting guards, Kelly Roysland and Shannon Schonrock both scored 14 points and hit a combined five three-pointers. The biggest performance for the Golden Gopher may have come from Shannon Bolden. Bolden hit big shot after big shot down the stretch, basically sealing the game herself as she scored 18 points, including 14 in the second half.