Nov. 26, 2008
Since there are no livestats for the Illinois-Montana game this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. CT, fightingillini.com will be providing score updates thoughout the game. You can also follow the action on the radio by tuning to WDWS AM-1400 in Champaign or WDAN AM-1490 in Danville. You can also listen online right here at fightingillini.com with an All-Access subscription. Click HERE to listen
3:32 p.m.
We've tipped off. Starting for Illinois is Josil, McCully, Smith, Blinn and Simpson. Chelsea Gordon, who missed last game with an ankle injury, is dressed and warmed-up but isn't starting.
3:39 p.m. - Illinois 4, Montana 0 with 15:26 left
Both teams are strugging from the field. Blinn and McCully have buckets for Illinois, who is 2-9 from the field. Montana is 0-7 from the field and has five offensive rebounds already.
3:46 p.m. - Illinois 12, Montana 6 with 11:16 left in the first
Jenna Smith picked up her second foul with 13:52 remaining and has come out with 0 points and 2 rebounds. Lana Rukavina is in the game now inside and has four points already. Eboni Mitchell has also played a couple minutes early. Illinois has already forced 9 Montana turnovers. Simpson and Josil each have 2 steals.
3:55 p.m. - Illinois 16, Montana 13 with 7:26 remaining in the first
Rukavina scored eigth points in five minutes to keep Illinois in front, but also picked up 3 fouls. Now Smith and Rukavina are each in foul trouble and on the bench. Illinois' line-up since Rukavina went out at 8:30 is Josil, McCully, Blinn, Mitchell and Simpson - four guards and Simpson, and four freshman and Simpson. Mitchell going to the line for two FTs after the media timeout.
4:02 p.m. - Illinois 22, Montana 17 with 3:37 left in the first
Illinois hanging onto the lead with the four guard and four freshman line-up in. Eboini Mitchell has four points, her first as an Illini, and has already played 10 minutes after playing only 3 on the season entering the game. Montana has 15 turnovers but has an 18-9 edge on the boards against the small UI line-up.
4:15 p.m. - Montana 26, Illinois 25 at Halftime
Illinois led most of the way despite Smith and Rukavina each playing only six minutes with foul trouble and Gordon not playing with the ankle injury, but the Lady Grizz went on a run to close the half and go into the break with a lead. Montana has 17 turnovers at the break.
4:37 p.m. - Montana 35, Illinois 30 with 15:27 remaining
Smith has four points early in the second and is going to the line after the media timeout. Mitchell started the second half in place of Josil but picked up her third foul early.
4:45 p.m. - Montana 41, Illinois 39 with 11:38 remaining
Intensity has picked-up in the second half. After being held scoreless in the first Smith has nine points in the first 8:22 of the second. Illinois shooting 38 percent compared to 42 for Montana. Montana leads the glass 30-16.
4:56 p.m. - Illinois 45, Montana 43 with 7:55 remaining
Simpson took an elbow to the head and went down at 8:34 mark but should return. Smith has 13 points and 6 boards now, after having 0 and 2 at halftime. Montana ball coming out of the break.
5:05 p.m. - Illinois 47, Montana 47 with 3:25 remaining
Smith has four fouls now and four other Illini (Mitchell, McCully, Simpson and Rukavina) have three. Montana is going to the line after the timeout.
5:13 p.m. - Illinois 49, Montana 49 with 26.3 second remaining.
Illinois ball with the shot clock off.
5:15 p.m. - Illinois 49, Montana 49 - end of regulation
Simpson baseline jumper rattled in and out at the buzzer and we're headed to OT.
5:27 p.m. - Montana 59, Illinois 57 - Final
Montana's Mandy Morales hit a leaning 15 footer with 0.7 seconds left for the win.
