Box Score | Printable Box | Highlights | Coach Bollant Postgame Interview

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands - One night after upsetting No. 9 Kentucky, the Fighting Illini ran into foul trouble and struggled on the glass as South Florida took a 67-61 win in both teams' second game at the Paradise Jam tournament. Illinois falls to 5-1 on the season, 1-1 in the Virgin Islands, while USF improves to 4-2, 1-1. Ivory Crawford posted a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but the Bulls scored 13 of the game's last 20 points to salt away the victory.

"We had a five point lead in the second half but they stepped up and made a lot of plays," Illini head coach Matt Bollant said. "They hit some threes and got to the line and got offensive rebounds, but I thought we showed a lot of heart and a lot of fight. We just didn't get enough defensive rebounds and that was the difference."

In addition to Crawford's performance, Kyley Simmons knocked in 16, including 4-of-11 from three-point range, doubling her season trey total. Brittany Carter also added 11, while Chatrice White had eight points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes before fouling out.

Illinois forced 30 USF turnovers but scored only 25 points off those miscues. The Illini shot just 33.3 percent (23-of-69) from the floor, including 7-of-23 three-pointers (30.4 percent). That made for an uphill climb as USF shot 47.2 percent on field goals (25-of-53) but only 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) from long range.

Rebounds proved to be the difference as the Bulls held a 45-33 advantage on the glass, including a 27-19 edge with eight USF offensive rebounds in the second half. The Bulls out-scored Illinois 20-12 in the paint in the second half and finished with a 32-26 edge in the category.

USF started strong, leading 8-2 before Brittany Carter hit a three to pull the Illini within two. A three-point play by Ivory Crawford got Illinois back within two, trailing 12-10, then Crawford tied it up with a layup off a feed from Amarah Coleman.

Illinois tied it up twice in the next few minutes but USF inched back ahead, pulling out to a 21-15 lead. The Bulls led 23-17 with 4:46 left before Simmons drained a trey and a Crawford putback pulled Illinois within 23-22. USF extended the lead to 26-24 but Simmons hit another three-pointer to give Illinois its first lead of the game at the 2:17 mark.

Then the Illini heated up, making three of their final four shots of the half to finish the stanza on a 9-2 run to grab a 33-28 lead at the break. USF got within one twice early in the second half but Simmons hit a long jumper and Crawford made a steal and a layup to push the lead back to five at 39-34.

Illinois led 41-37 with 12:43 remaining after a Carter layup, when USF got an offensive rebound and putback, then made a layup the next time down to tie the game at 41. But the Illini settled down and Jacqui Grant hit two free throws then Simmons drained another trey, pushing the lead back to 46-41.

USF hit a three-pointer but Carter made 1-of-2 from the line 15 seconds after Grant fouled out at the 8:19 markand Crawford hit a step-back jumper, giving the Illini a 49-44 lead with 7:20 to go. That's when USF really asserted itself, using a run-out layup and three-pointer to tie the game at 49 and taking its first lead since late in the first half with a layup by Courtney Williams for a 51-49 lead, capping a 7-0 run.

Simmons hit her fourth three-pointer to push the Illini back on top but USF got a layup on the other end. Carter drained a 15-footer with 3:26 to go, giving Illinois a 54-53 lead, but Williams hit two free throws and Simmons missed a three-pointer. USF scored the next three points to go ahead 58-54 and Illinois never got closer than two the rest of the way, falling 67-61.

The Illini finish their time at Paradise Jam Saturday when they take on Oklahoma, which is 0-2 so far in the tournament. The game will tip off at 5 p.m. CT and will air live on WDWS AM-1400.