Feb. 8, 2009

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Fighting Illini look to be clicking on all cylinders after a 66-59 road win at Indiana on Sunday afternoon to complete a season sweep of the Hoosiers. Illinois has now won three of its last four games, including two straight away from home. Junior Lacey Simpson had 16 points, 14 rebounds and three steals to pace the Illini, while junior Jenna Smith led all scorers with 21 points.

Illinois (7-17, 3-10) held the Hoosiers to 31.1 percent shooting after holding them to just 28.6 percent from the field in the Illini's 61-52 victory on Jan. 25 in Champaign. The Hoosiers were 7-1 at home on the season heading into the game and the Orange and Blue hadn't won in Bloomington in exactly five years, since a 64-52 win on Feb. 8, 2004.

Smith hit only 4-of-11 from the field, but found her way to the line a career-high 16 times, hitting 13 for a game-high 21 points. It was her 32nd straight game scoring in double-figures and the eighth time she's scored over 20 points this year. Smith also added six boards, two assists, two blocks, two steals in 40 minutes.

Simpson's double-double gives her eight on the year and a Big Ten leading six in conference play. Her 14 rebounds moved her over the 600-rebound milestone and bumped her from 15th on the Illinois career rebounding list all the way into a tie for 12th with 612. The Big Ten steals leader entering the game, Simpson also added three thefts, two assists and block on the day.

The Illini led 28-24 at the break, but Indiana (15-7, 8-5) came out of the on fire to start the second half, taking a 36-35 lead with just under 16 minutes to play. The Hoosiers still led 44-41 midway through the half, but Illinois responded with a quick 7-0 run, capped by a steal and an old fashioned three-point play by junior transfer Whitney Toone, to take a 48-44 lead with 9:34 remaining. The Illini would never trail again.

Indiana pulled within two on three occasions, but the game's key sequence came with Illinois up 61-56 and just under three minutes to play. Indiana's Jamie Braun missed a three-pointer and two Hoosiers misfired from point-blank range after back-to-back offensive rebounds. After Simpson finally pulled down the board for the Illini, IU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack was whistled for a technical foul. Smith knocked down both free throws to put the Illini up seven and Indiana wouldn't score again until the final seconds.

"When they took the lead in the second half, I told my team to dig deep defensively and let the defense create the offense," Illinois head coach Jolette Law said. "Whitney Toone and Lacey Simpson got a couple big steals down the stretch that led to points and put us in a position to win."

Illinois shot 41.3 percent from the field (19-of-46), a season-high 57.1 percent from behind the arc (57.1 percent), and went to the line a season high 29 times, knocking down 24 (82.8 percent) to help overcome 20 turnovers and a 42-33 rebounding disadvantage.

All three freshman guards stepped up to have big games, as Macie Blinn hit 2-of-2 from three-point land to finish with nine points, Lydia McCully hit 2-of-3 from downtown for eight points and also added three assists and three steals, while Fabiola Josil scored seven points for the Fighting Illini. Toone and Lana Rukavina also came in off the bench to provide valuable minutes.

Whitney Thomas and Jori Davis, who each had 12 points, led Indiana, but Illinois' defense held IU guards Kim Roberson and Jamie Braun to 7-of-29 from the field and bothered point guard Braun into nine turnovers. Thomas pulled down 10 rebounds to reach 1,000 career boards.

"Defensively, we know they have great shooters in Jamie Braun and Jori Davis, so we wanted to play aggressively and be there on the catch so they couldn't get open looks."

Illinois led for most of the first half, taking control with a 15-4 run that turned a 7-6 deficit into a 21-11 lead. Blinn hit two three-pointers during the run and led all scorers at the half with nine points. IU crept closer to finish the half, but Illinois still led 28-24 at the break thanks to stifling defense. The Orange and Blue held the hosts to 26.9 percent first half shooting and forced 11 Hoosier turnovers.

The Fighting Illini will now return home to host Northwestern on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m., before heading back east to face Purdue on Feb. 15 in West Lafayette in a clash that will be televised by ESPN2.