Dec. 5, 2007

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois gave No. 9 Oklahoma all it could handle Wednesday night at Assembly Hall, but a late second half run by the Sooners was too much to overcome as the Illini fell, 77-67. Chelsea Gordon led Illinois with 16 points and Jenna Smith and Danyel Crutcher each chipped in 15 for the Orange and Blue, who fall to 6-3 on the season.

Illinois tied the game at 54-54 after a lay-up by Smith at the 7:56 mark. Smith was fouled on the play as well, but missed the free throw that would have given the Illini their first lead since late in the first half. From that point on, it was all Sooners.

OU proceeded to go on a 16-3 run, sparked four costly Illini turnovers that were converted directly into 10 points, to break the game open at 70-57 with under four minutes to play. OU freshman Danielle Robinson, who had a career-high seven steals in the game, had two in a row and took them both in for lay-ups on the other end during the run. Then Nyeshia Stevenson and Jenna Plumley capped the run with steals and three-pointers on the other end.

Oklahoma's Courtney Paris, the reigning AP National Player of the Year, had 22 points and 14 rebounds to extend her streak of games with a double-double to 68.

The teams traded blows in the first half, as there were seven ties and six lead changes. The Illini led 23-21 after a pair of Rebecca Harris free throws with 5:32 left in the half, but would fail to score the rest of the way, going 0-for-6 from the field and committing three turnovers in the final five minutes of the half. OU's Stevenson hit two three-pointers in the final minute to give the Sooners some momentum and a 29-23 lead at the break.

In the second half, Smith came alive for the Illini, scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbing seven boards to keep the game close. But Courtney Paris picked-up her game as well, pouring in 16 second-half points to lead the Sooners.

Gordon hit 3-of-7 from behind the arc for her 16 points and added four assists. Crutcher, who torched the Sooners for 24 points and 11 rebounds in Illinois' upset win over OU in 2005, had another good game, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine boards. Smith hit 7-of-9 from the field for her 15 points, and just missed another double-double with eight boards. Sophomore Lori Bjork had five assists and scored eight points, but struggled from the field, hitting 2-of-11 overall and 2-of-9 from three-point land.

Illinois did a good job of keeping OU, one of the top rebounding teams in the nation (+16 rebounding margin) off the boards, limiting them to just eight offensive rebounds and a 34-33 rebounding edge. However, the Sooners held significant advantages in points in the paint, 38-16, points off turnovers, 24-6, and fast break points, 10-0.

Illinois shot 42 percent for the game and 50 percent in the second half, but knocked down just 5-of-19 (26 percent) from downtown. OU shot 56 percent in the second half and 49 percent for the game while forcing 19 Illinois turnovers

The Illini now head to the Windy City on Saturday for the annual Lexus December to Remember Classic at the United Center. Illinois will face Chicago State at 1:30 p.m. immediately following the Illini men's game against Arizona.