Feb. 6, 2005

Box Score

Illinois' women's basketball team was defeated today by Michigan State 68-59 in front of 6,284 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. With the win, the 10th-ranked Spartans move to 20-3 overall and 9-2 in conference play, while the Fighting Illini fall to 13-7 overall and 5-6 in Big Ten play. Angelina Williams led the Illini with 21 points and had four steals, four rebounds and two blocked shots.

The Orange and Blue, down as many as 17 in the first half, staged a furious rally in the second half and outscored Michigan State by 10 points for the first 17:03 of the final stanza, but the Illini did not score again while the Spartans scored the final seven points of the contest.

Senior Tiffanie Guthrie scored 13 of her 15 points and Williams 12 of her 21 in the second half to rally the Illini. In the second half, the Illini comeback was fueled by the Illinois bench, which had eight points, and by the Fighting Illini outscoring Michigan State in points off turnovers and second chance points.

Freshman Danyel Crutcher continued her recent strong play, hauling down nine rebounds, including five offensive, and scoring seven points. Erin Wigley added nine points while Janelle Hughes chipped in seven for the Orange and Blue.

The Illini return to the court this Thursday, Feb. 13 against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wisc.