Illini Dominate Second Half to Top Rhode Island, 73-62

Women's Basketball January 5, 2006

Illini Dominate Second Half to Top Rhode Island, 73-62

Jan. 5, 2006

KINGSTON, R.I. - Illinois improved to 4-0 in games following a loss after a 73-62 victory over Rhode Island Thursday at the Ryan Center. Janelle Hughes poured in a career-high tying 22 points to lead the Illini, including 15 in the second half, to wrap-up the non-conference slate at 8-3 and improve to 9-4 overall.

Trailing by six at halftime, Illinois (9-4 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) turned things around on both ends of the court in the second half, using a 9-0 run to take the lead on an Erin Wigley jumper at the 13:50 mark and eventually stretching the lead out to eight, 53-45, with just under 10 minutes to go. Rhode Island clawed back to within two, 56-54, moments later, but a Lori Bjork three-pointer, her only three points of the game, sparked a quick 7-0 UI run that put the game out of reach in the final minutes. The Illini hit 17 of 27 shots in the half (.630) while outscoring the Rams 45-28.

Illinois jumped out to a 13-6 lead early on in the game, but Rhode Island's defensive pressure caused the Illini problems as the Rams countered with a 19-4 run to take a 25-17 lead with eight minutes to go. The Illini continued to struggle offensively the rest of the half, going into the break down 34-28.

Illinois held a 42-30 rebounding advantage for the game, lead by Audrey Tabon's game-high 10 boards. The Orange and Blue outscored the Rams 36-26 in the paint to help overcome 20 turnovers.

Danyel Crutcher got her first start of the season and responded with a solid 18 point, seven rebound effort. Wigley finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Hughes, in addition to her 22 points, also added four rebounds and three steals. Tabon (8 points), Gratton (5 points) and Bjork (3 points) were the only other Illini to score outside of the "big three." Maggie Acuna dished out a game-high seven assists for the Orange and Blue.

The Illini return to Big Ten play this Sunday when they host Northwestern at Assembly Hall at 2 p.m. Illinois is riding a seven-game home winning steak and is currently 1-1 in conference play.

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