Feb. 7, 2010
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Senior Jenna Smith pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds and senior Lacey Simpson had her second straight double-double for Illinois, but Indiana still left town with a 67-54 victory Sunday afternoon thanks to a solid defensive effort. A season-high 2,482 pink-clad fans came out to the Assembly Hall for Illinois' fourth annual WBCA Pink Zone game, which raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research, but they couldn't help the Fighting Illini overcome 23 turnovers and 27 percent shooting.
Illinois (12-11, 4-9) took a 42-40 lead after a three-pointer by Adrienne GodBold with 8:49 remaining, but the tide turned after that as the Hoosiers went on a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to take control of the game. The IU run started with an off-balance 15-foot jumper by Jamie Braun as the shot clock expired with 8:14 to play. During that pivotal four-minute stretch, the Orange and Blue missed all four of their shots and turned the ball over four times as Indiana pulled out to a 52-44 lead with 4:54 remaining. The Illini would get no closer than six in the final minutes as the Hoosiers pulled away behind strong free throw shooting.
Smith struggled offensively for the second-straight game, going just 3-of-16 from the field and scoring nine points, but she made up for it with 20 rebounds, six blocks and four assists. She helped the Illini to a 50-35 rebounding advantage for the game that translated into a 22-11 edge in second chance points.
Simpson, meanwhile, scored a team-high 17 points, including a career-high tying three three-pointers, and pulled down 11 boards for her third double-double of the season and the 17th of her career. She also moved into ninth on the Big Ten's career steals list with two thefts on the day.
Sophomore Lydia McCully had a career-high four steals and also chipped in eight points and five rebounds for the Orange and Blue. Freshman Karisma Penn added seven points and fellow frosh GodBold had six points and six boards, but the duo, along with McCully, also combined for 15 of the team's 23 turnovers.
Points off turnovers and free throw shooting were the difference for Indiana (13-10, 6-6). The Hoosiers scored 24 points off the 23 Illini turnovers, while the Orange and Blue got just 11 points off of 14 IU miscues. Indiana also converted 26-of-34 from the charity stripe, while the Illini got to the line only 11 times, converting nine.
Jori Davis led the Hoosiers with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Whitney Lindsay added a career-high 16 points and Champaign native Hope Elam had seven points, six rebounds and four steals for IU.
The Fighting Illini remain at home to host Northwestern on Thursday night, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. before heading to Iowa on Valentine's Day to face the Hawkeyes at 2 p.m.
Illinois Postgame Notes vs. Indiana
• Jenna Smith pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds today against the Hoosiers, eclipsing her previous high of 19 set on Nov. 9, 2007 at Eastern Illinois. The 20 boards ties the fifth-best rebounding performance in school history and marks the first 20+ rebound game by an Illini since Sony Waters had 21 boards on Dec. 21, 1989.
• One game after breaking the single-game school record with seven blocks against Purdue Thursday night, Smith swatted away six Indiana shots to bring her career total to 207.
• Jenna Smith moved into a tie for first on the Illinois games started list. She made her 110th career start today to equal the record held by Tauja Catchings and Lisa Bradley.
• With two steals today, Lacey Simpson moved into ninth place on the Big Ten's all-time steals list. She now has 324 thefts in her career to pass former Purdue Boilermaker Joy Holmes' (1988-91) total of 323.
• Simpson had a team-high 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds for her second straight double-double. She has three double-doubles this season and 17 in her career.
• Illinois out-rebounded Indiana 50-35 today. Both the 50 rebounds and the +15 rebounding margin are season-highs for the Illini, as was the 22 offensive rebounds they had on the day.
