March 6, 2008
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Fighting Illini duo of Jenna Smith and Rebecca Harris each recorded double-doubles, leading the way to a convincing 73-58 victory over Wisconsin in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday night at Conseco Fieldhouse. Illinois (17-13) advances to Friday's quarterfinals to face top-seeded and 22nd-ranked Ohio State (22-7).
Smith recorded 21 points and 10 rebounds for her 15th double-double this season, while Harris had 19 points and 10 rebounds for her second-career double-double. Sophomore Lacey Simpson was effective on both ends of the court, scoring 15 points and adding six rebounds and six assists while tying her career-high with five blocks.
Illinois, who entered the game as the No. 9 need, went on a key 9-0 run toward the beginning of the second half, capped by a jumper by Lori Bjork at the 15:27 mark, that was the difference in the game, pushing a four-point advantage to 13, 43-30. The lead was never less than 10 points from that point on.
The run extended to a 20-5 advantage that put the Illini up by 19, 54-35, with 10:59 to play. Illinois' largest lead of the game was 20 points, 61-41, with 7:21 to go. Illinois led the duration of the game, its only deficit coming when the score was 2-0 in the opening minutes.
The Illini defense, spearheaded by junior Chelsea Gordon, held the Badgers to 26 percent shooting (10-of-39) in the second half, while shooting 55 percent (12-of-22) themselves. Illinois won the rebounding battle 46-36 and hit 63 percent from three-point land (5-of-8) compared to the Badgers' 39 percent (5-of-13).
For the game, Illinois finished at 46 percent from the field while holding Bucky to 31 percent shooting. In addition, the Orange and Blue racked up nine blocks in the game, equaling a season-high that was set in the Dec. 30 win over Wisconsin.
The Illini held a nine-point advantage three different times throughout the first half, the last coming at the 10:49 mark with the score 23-14. Wisconsin got within three points twice, but both times Illinois responded with a quick bucket on the next possession and took a 34-28 advantage into halftime. The stars came out early for both squads, as Smith had 13 points and eight rebounds at the break and Big Ten Player of the Year Jolene Anderson had 12 points and seven rebounds for Wisconsin.
The win gives the Illini a 2-1 series edge over Badgers this season. Each team won on its home court during the regular season. It also marks the fourth straight season Illinois had advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Illinois-Ohio State match-up will tip-off at 6 p.m. ET at Conseco Fieldhouse and will be televised live by the Big Ten Network. The two teams split two meetings in the regular season, with the Illini dropping a heartbreaker in Columbus, 43-42, on Jan. 17, and responding with a 68-64 victory at Assembly Hall two weeks later.
