Nov. 3, 2006
Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois shot 54.2 percent from the field in an impressive 86-30 victory over Clarion University Friday night at Assembly Hall in the first of two exhibition games leading up to the 2006-07 season. Sophomore guard Lori Bjork led the way for the Orange and Blue, scoring a game-high 26 points, and freshman Jenna Smith posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
An experimental 20' 6" three-point line was used in the game, but that didn't keep Bjork from hitting 6-of-9 (.667) from behind the ark and 9-of-12 from the field overall. As a team, Illinois hit 9-of-15 (.600) from three-point land.
The Illini used a 14-0 run to pull away from Clarion early. The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first minute, but Illinois countered with a three-pointer by Bjork, back-to-back buckets by Danyel Crutcher, another Bjork trey and a traditional three-point play by Chelsea Gordon to jump in front 16-7. Illinois dominated the rest of the half, hitting 16-of-28 (.571) from the field to open a 42-18 lead at the break. Bjork had 13 points to lead all scorers.
The second half was much of the same as Illinois' defense continued to stifle the Golden Eagles, and Bjork continued her hot shooting. Clarion managed just six points in the first 16 minutes of the second half and shot only 11 percent (3-of-27) from the field in the second half. Meanwhile, Bjork hit a pair of early treys and equaled her first half total of 13 points.
For the game, Illinois dominated the glass for a 46-30 rebounding advantage and forced 28 Golden Eagle turnovers. In addition to Bjork and Smith's gaudy numbers, senior Erin Wigley (11 points) and Crutcher (10 points) were both in double figures. Sophomore Lacey Simpson had a solid all-around game with six rebounds, six steals, five points and four assists.
It was a special game for sophomore forward Danielle Gratton, as her sister, April is a junior for Clarion. Danielle finished with seven points in 14 minutes, while April did not score in eight minutes of action.
The exhibition allowed Illini head Coach Theresa Grentz to try different line-up combinations in preparation for the season opener vs. Butler at Assembly Hall on Sunday, Nov. 12. Before the regular season begins, however, the Illini will have one more exhibition game to fine-tune things when Lewis University comes to Assembly Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Tip-off for that game is at 7 p.m.
