Feb. 5, 2006
Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois came out hot, but couldn't hold on to an eight point second half lead in a 57-51 loss to No. 17 Michigan State Sunday in front of a season-high 6,459 fans at Assembly Hall. Janelle Hughes had 16 points and Erin Wigley and Audrey Tabon added 14 apiece for Illinois (12-10, 4-7), which lost its sixth straight game.
The Illini led 41-33 lead before the Spartans went on a 13-2 run. Bowen's 3-pointer with 11:33 left helped Michigan State (17-7, 7-4 Big Ten) take a 46-43 lead. Wigley hit two free throws with 4:30 left to tie the score at 51. But Michigan State went to a full-court press and Illinois missed four shots and committed two turnovers down the stretch.
MSU's Liz Shimek, who had 15 points and nine rebounds, hit two free throws and a basket for a 55-51 Spartans' lead. Rene Haynes and Alisha Jefferson each made one free throw in the final minute.
Illinois, which lost at home by 15 points to No. 12 Minnesota on Thursday, built an 18-9 lead before the Spartans started finding their range.
After missing eight of its first 12 shots, Michigan State put together an 18-6 run and took its first lead, 27-26, on Jefferson's jumper with 2:58 left in the half. The teams traded baskets and Tabon's short jumper with 40 seconds left gave the Illini a 30-29 lead at the break.
Tabon came off the bench for the first time this season, hit 6 of 8 from the field for her 14 points, one shy of her career-high, and also grabbed six boards. Wigley had eight rebounds and a career-best tying four blocked shots, while Janelle Hughes dished out a game-high five assists. Lindsay Bowen added 13 points for the Spartans.
The Illini were 0-for-8 from 3-point range and are now just 2 of 28 from behind the arc in the last three games. Illinois shot 40.0 percent for the game (22-55) and was out-rebounded 37-32.
Michigan State extended its winning streak to three games overall and seven over Illinois.
The Illini close-out a three-game home stand this Thursday when they host Wisconsin at Assembly Hall at 7 p.m. Illinois beat the Badgers earlier this season in Madison 84-54.
