Oct. 29, 2006
2006 Orange and Blue Scrimmage Box Score (PDF)
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois stepped onto the Assembly Hall floor for the first time in 2006-07 for the annual Orange and Blue Scrimmage and gave the 779 Illini faithful in attendance plenty to be excited about. Sophomore center Erin McCarthy led the way with 14 points and freshman center Jenna Smith added 13 as the Illini took three of the five "mini-games" from their mostly-male scout team.
Playing against the scout team, which consisted of seven males and one female (former Illini Maggie Acuna), for the third year in a row, the Illini won the first, third and fifth of the five 10-minute games. Illinois won the deciding fifth game by a narrow 17-16 margin to take the scrimmage.
McCarthy (7-10) and Smith (5-6) combined to shoot 12-16 from the field, showing that the Illini will have a strong presence in the post this season. Sophomore forward Chelsea Gordon added 12 points and redshirt freshman Lacey Simpson had 10 points and three steals.
Illinois was red-hot from behind the arc as six players combined to drain 9-of-17 (.529) from three-point land. Simpson, Gordon and sophomore Lori Bjork each drained two treys, while Smith, redshirt freshman Victoria Arndt and junior transfer Rebecca Harris each drilled one. Arndt and Harris also led the way on the glass, each grabbing four rebounds. The Illini shot .477 overall (31-of-65).
The news wasn't all good for the Illini, however, as senior center Audrey Tabon left the game in the second game after injuring her right knee. Tabon did not return to action and her status for the beginning of the season is unknown.
Illinois will return to Assembly Hall to open the exhibition season this Friday, Nov. 3, when Clarion University comes to town. Clarion is an NCAA Division II institution located in Clarion, Pa. Four Illini hail from the state of Pennsylvania, Erin Wigley (Moon Township), Audrey Tabon (Pittsburgh), Chelsea Gordon (Erie) and Danielle Gratton (Bethel Park). Gratton's older sister, April, is a junior for the Golden Eagles.
