Nov. 19, 2008

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's basketball team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 65-55 victory over border rival Missouri Wednesday night at Assembly Hall. Junior Lacey Simpson led a balanced attack and equaled her career-high with 18 points and six steals in a game that featured seven ties and 10 lead changes.

Illinois (3-0) started off sluggish for the second straight week, as cold shooting early led to deficits of 10-2 and 18-7 in the first half. However, the Illini came storming back behind the inspired play of Simpson, who had seven points during 12-2 Illini run that gave them a 23-22 lead with just under five minutes to play in the half. Illinois extended lead to 30-26 on a lay-up by redshirt freshman Lydia McCully just before the halftime buzzer. Simpson led the way at the break with 12 points, while McCully added six.

The game see-sawed back and forth in the second half until the Fighting Illini went on a decisive 8-0 run that turned a slim 51-49 lead into a 59-49 advantage with just under four minutes to play. Four different Illini scored in the run as junior center Jenna Smith started it with a bucket and a foul and then freshman Lana Rukavina scored on a putback after Smith missed the free throw. McCully would hit a pair of three throws on the next trip down and then freshman Macie Blinn capped the run with a running scoop shot in the lane. The Tigers would get no closer than eight after that.

Senior Chelsea Gordon left the game with an ankle injury late in the first half and did not return, but Blinn and McCully each stepped up in her absence. Blinn had 10 of her 14 points in the second half, while McCully played all 40 minutes and finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three steals. Smith had an off shooting night, but the All-American still finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Illinois shot 52 percent in the second half and 44 percent for the game, while holding Missouri (0-2) to just 35 percent from the field. The Illini were out-rebounded 40-35, but shot season-bests from both the free throw line (86 percent) and the three-point stripe (38 percent).

The game marked the return of two former Illini greats to Assembly Hall as Missouri head coach Cindy Stein and associate head coach Lynnette Robinson each had solid playing careers for Illinois. Stein graduated in 1984 and is still one of the program's all-time assist leaders, while Robinson finished her career in 1982 and is still the single season rebounding leader.

The Fighting Illini wrap-up a three-game homestand this Sunday when they host Temple (1-1) at 7:30 p.m. They'll then jet off to Cancun, Mexico for the Caribbean Challenge Nov. 26-28.