Dec. 31, 2006

Box Score

Minneapolis, Minn. - Illinois' let one slip away Sunday in Minneapolis, Minn., falling to the Golden Gophers 70-61 after leading by as many as 10 in the second half. The loss snapped the Fighting Illini's five-game winning streak and dropped their overall record to 11-3 and their Big Ten mark to 1-1. Sophomore Chelsea Gordon led the Orange and Blue with 17 points.

"This is one of those games that could have gone either way," said Illinois head coach Theresa Grentz. "We had a lot of chances for easy baskets in the second half and didn't convert and that put a lot of pressure on our defense."

The Illini led by two at the break and took control of the game early in the second half with an 11-0 run that spanned less than two minutes immediately after Minnesota took a brief 41-40 lead. Illinois responded with a three-pointer by Lacey Simpson, an old fashioned three-point play by Rebecca Harris, a three-pointer by Lori Bjork and a two-point jumper by Erin Wigley on consecutive possessions to take a 51-41 lead with 13:07 remaining.

Minnesota coach Pam Borton called at timeout, and it was all Gophers (9-5, 1-1) from that point on as they responded with a 14-2 run over the next seven minutes to reclaim the lead, 55-53 with 6:11 to play. The game remained tight until the final minute, with Illinois having two chances to tie or take the lead with the score 61-59, but a key offensive foul by Lori Bjork at the 1:44 mark proved to a backbreaker for the Orange and Blue. Following that play, UM would score nine straight points, all on free throws, to put the game out of reach.

Illinois had 22 turnovers for the game, including 12 in the second half, and had trouble adjusting to Minnesota's full court press for much of the game. The Illini also committed a season-high 25 fouls, sending UM to the line 36 times, where they made 26. Coming into the game, Illinois ranked second in the nation in fewest fouls committed per game (12.5).

Bjork hit three three-pointers and finished with 13 points, her 12th consecutive game in double figures. Simpson had her usual solid all-around performance with 11 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Freshman Jenna Smith, a native of Bloomington, Minn., struggled in her return home. The 2006 Minnesota Ms. Basketball was 3-of-8 from the field and finished with six points and six rebounds in limited action due to foul trouble.

"Jenna's been terrific for us all season," said Grentz of her lone freshman. "I think there was a little pressure on her today coming back and it was a closely called game so the foul trouble didn't help."

Minnesota's Kelly Roysland led all scorers with a game-high 27 points, including 5-of-11 from three-point land.

"Roysland hit some shots early and really got things going," said Grentz. "She's done some great things for them all season so this was no surprise."

The Orange and Blue look to get back to their winning ways Thursday night, Jan. 4, when they hit the road to face the Michigan Wolverines. The game can be heard live on the Illini Sports Network at 6 p.m. CT. Illinois returns home on Sunday, Jan. 7 to host Indiana at 2 p.m.