Memphis, Tenn. - Fighting Illini women's basketball fell to 7-2 on the season Saturday, Dec. 19, with an 81-75 loss at Memphis. Sophomore Chatrice White led the Orange and Blue with 28 points and 12 rebounds, earning her third-consecutive double-double and scoring more than 20 points for the fifth time this season. The Illini knocked down a season-best 12 three-pointers in the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Tigers.
White finished 10-for-19 from the floor on Saturday, hitting four of Illinois' 12 three-pointers in the contest. She added three blocks and two assists to her tally as well.
"We didn't do enough defensively to win the game today," head coach Matt Bollant said. "Hearn was really good for Memphis but we didn't slow her down. We did enough things offensively to win the game, but we didn't get the stops we neeed to to get the win on the road."
After hitting an early three in the game, the Memphis Tigers pulled ahead of the Illini holding on to the lead for much of the first quarter. The Illini fought back, squaring things up to end the first quarter. The Illini hit 5-of-6 three-pointers in the period, thanks to sophomore Brooke Kissinger, who's treys were major momentum changers for the Orange and Blue. White had racked up 12 points by the end of the first quarter, her fourth consecutive game putting up more than 10 points, and her eighth this season.
Illinois stayed close during the second quarter, trailing by just one point at halftime. Illinois scored 18 points off of nine Memphis turnovers in the first half. The Illini knocked down eight first-half three pointers, marking the seventh game this season that UI has made eight or more triples in a game.
The Orange and Blue used the halftime break to their advantage, coming out of the locker room on fire. Illinois took the lead midway through the period, but could not hold on as Memphis closed the third quarter on a 7-0 run to get back in the lead. White led the Illini with six points in the third quarter, already earning her third consecutive double-double.
Memphis continued its run into the fourth quarter, putting up the first five points of the period. The Illini fought hard to come back, but the Tigers would not go away. Illinois finished with 25 points off of Memphis turnovers, and the Illini assisted on 15 of 28 field goals in the game.
Illinois returns to the State Farm Center on Tuesday, Dec. 22, hosting South Dakota at 7 p.m. The game will mark this year's Ugly Sweater party, and fans are encouraged to wear "ugly" sweaters to the game. Fans who show up in their own "ugly" sweaters will receive a free Fighting Illini scarf.
Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest on Illinois women's basketball.
Notes
- Saturday's game marked the debut of Illinois' Orange uniforms
- Illinois dropped to 7-2 on the season with Saturday's 81-75 loss at Memphis.
- The Illini made eight three-pointers in the first half, finishing the game with a season-best 12 total. It's the seventh game this season that Illinois has made more than eight threes and the fourth that they have knocked down 10 or more.
- Sophomore Chatrice White knocked down 15 first-half points on her way to 28 in the game. She's put up double-figures in eight games this season, including the last four straight.
- With 28 points on Saturday, Chatrice White earned back-to-back 20-point scoring games for the third time this season.
- White also earned her third-consecutive double-double and her fifth of the season. She has 11 career-double-doubles.
