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Women's Basketball

Game 30 Notes & Links: Illinois vs. Michigan

Women's Basketball

Game 30 Notes & Links: Illinois vs. Michigan

Feb. 27, 2015

Game 30: Illinois (14-15, 5-12 Big Ten) vs. Michigan (16-12, 8-9 Big Ten)
When Feb. 28, 2015 | 11 AM CT
Where Champaign, Ill. | State Farm Center (17,085) | Fan Guide
Tickets Single Game ($5) | More Info
Shop | Auctions
Television BTN | Eric Collins & Shelley Till | BTN2Go
Radio WDWS AM-1400 | Listen (subscription required)
Live StatsGameTracker | Mobile Stats
Printable Notes Illinois | Michigan | Big Ten
2014-15 Stats Illinois | Michigan | Big Ten
Social Media@IlliniWBB   |  #Illini   |  Facebook | @IlliniWBB  | YouTube YouTube icon

 Illinois Probable Starters (from previous game)
Pos. No. Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Other Note
G 15 Kyley Simmons 5-7 Jr. 10.1 2.3 3.2 apg 15-of-25 (60%) 3FG from Feb. 1-8
G 20 Brittany Carter 6-0 Sr. 8.4 5.4 2.7 spg 2nd in B1G in steals (3.1) in conf. gms
G 22 Ivory Crawford 5-10 Sr. 15.3 5.0 2.4 spg 2 rebs shy of triple-double vs. MINN
F 34 Jacqui Grant 6-3 So. 9.7 7.0 0.9 bpg Tied career high w/29 pts vs. MINN
C 32 Chatrice White 6-3 Fr. 14.2 7.1 2.0 bpg 6th in B1G in steals & blks in conf gms
 Off the Bench
Pos. No. Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG Other Note
G 0 Sarah Hartwell 5-10 Jr. 0.8 0.5 3.0 mpg 3rd on UI in assists in 2013-14
G 2 Taylor Gleason 5-8 So. 0.7 1.1 3.4 mpg Had 2 pts, 5 rebs at SIU (12/6)
G/F 3 Taylor Tuck 6-0 Sr. 2.5 1.5 9.1 mpg 5 pts, 6 rebs vs. #19 Nebraska (1/11)
F 5 Nia Oden 5-10 Sr. 0.9 1.0 5.1 mpg 6 pts, 4 rebs, 3 steals vs. WIS
G 10 Amarah Coleman 5-11 Fr. 7.1 2.1 1.9 apg Returned to 6th player role vs. WIS
G 12 Ashley McConnell 5-9 So. 1.4 0.8 9.7 mpg Season-high 9 pts vs. Wisconsin (2/1)
G/F 13 Mikaala Shackelford 5-10 r-Fr. - - - Currently sidelined w/an injury
G 21 Brooke Kissinger 5-7 Fr. 1.4 0.6 6.2 mpg Holds NEB HS 3FG made record
G 23 Alexis Smith 5-9 Sr. - - - Currently sidelined w/an injury
G 25 Kennedy Cattenhead 5-10 r-Fr. 1.0 1.0 5.8 mpg Had 4 pts, 3 rebs at SIU & IND

Illinois is...
...ranked 27th nationally & 1st in Big Ten in steals (10.9 spg)
...ranked 30th nationally & 2nd in B1G in TO margin (+5.0)
...ranked 66th nationally & 5th in B1G in 3FG made (6.6pg)
...3rd in the Big Ten in 3-pt defense (29.8%)
...5th in the Big Ten in scoring defense (63.7)
...13-6 when scoring 60+ points
...8-1 when shooting more FTs than its opponent
...11-4 when holding opponents under 40% FG shooting
...9-5 when out-scoring opponents in the paint
...6-2 when Chatrice White has 3+ blocks
...7-3 when White leads or shares team lead in scoring
...in its third season under head coach Matt Bollant

Quick Hits
• Postseason probables: Heading into the final game of the regular season, Illinois is in sole possession of 10th place in the Big Ten standings. With a win on Saturday, the Illini would clinch a first-round bye and likely face #7 Nebraska on Thursday, March 5, at 6 p.m. Illinois is one game ahead of Wisconsin and Indiana, but both hold the tiebreaker over Illinois. Should Michigan win on Saturday, the Illini would retain the #10 seed if Indiana and Wisconsin both lose, but would fall to #11 or #12 should the Hoosiers and/or Badgers win their final games.

• Defense Does It For Illinois: After leading the Big Ten for the past two years, the Illini rank second in the league in 2014-15 with a +5.0 turnover margin this season, with the help of the a league-leading 10.9 steals per game. UI led the Big Ten in steals per game (11.0 spg) and turnover margin (+5.2) in 2013-14, ranking eighth in the nation in steals and 13th in turnover margin. The Illini stand 30th nationally in turnover margin and 27th in steals per game this season, and have three individuals (Carter, Crawford, White) ranked in the top ten in the conference in steals.

Illinois leads the Big Ten in turnovers forced for the second-straight year and has raised the bar this season, forcing 21.3 per game compared to 19.1 in 2013-14. UI has forced 20-plus turnovers in 19 of 29 games thus far, including 34 on Michigan State on Feb. 25, topping last season's number of games forcing 20-plus turnovers (17).

Additionally, the Illini are fifth in the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing 63.5 ppg, due in part to its D at the perimeter, ranking third in three-point defense (.298).

• Illinois Turns Defense Into Offense: With that turnover margin of +5.0 per game, the Illini also have out-scored their opponents 575-454 off turnovers for an average edge of +4.2 points per game.

• Foes Can't Find Stroke From Long Range: Illinois ranks third in the Big Ten in three-point field-goal defense (29.8 percent), a marked improvement over last season's 33.7 percent allowed that ranked last in the Big Ten and 278th nationally. The Illini held No. 9 Kentucky without a three-pointer on Nov. 27, breaking UK's streak of 367 games with a trey. They also limited Purdue (twice), Penn State, Nebraska (twice), Michigan State, Maryland, Northwestern (twice), Minnesota and Rutgers to a combined 44-of-170 (25.9 percent) shooting from beyond the arc. Illinois has limited 16 of its 29 opponents to five or fewer trifectas.

• Teams Face Tough Sledding Versus Illini: Illinois has held 20 of its 29 opponents under 70 points, including in 12 of its 14 wins, with a 77-71 triumph over No. 9 Kentucky and a 91-76 victory at Penn State the only outliers. The Illini also have held five teams under 20 points in a half this season: Robert Morris (15, 1st half), Southern (15, 2nd), Southern Illinois (15, 1st), Valparaiso (19, 1st) and Murray State (11, 1st).

• Crawford Back In Lineup: While Illinois knocked off No. 17 Iowa on Jan. 8 despite Ivory Crawford only playing five minutes before suffering a knee injury, the Fighting Illini clearly missed their leading scorer in the next six games, topping the 60-point mark only once. But in Crawford's second game back after returning, Illinois hung 95 on Minnesota (Feb. 5), its highest point total this season. In 20 games with Crawford in the lineup this season, Illinois is averaging 68.8 ppg. In nearly seven games without her, the Illini averaged 59.6 ppg.

• Single-Game Treys Record Falls: Illinois shattered the school record for three-pointers in a single game at Valparaiso on Dec. 13, making 15-of-28 (53.6 percent). The outing surpassed the previous mark of 12 treys, which was set in 1997 and tied in 2003 and 2013. UI then hit 12 triples at Penn State, breaking the school record for three-pointers in a Big Ten game. The Illini drained 10 treys against Minnesota, marking the 16th time in Matt Bollant's 88 games as Illinois' head coach - and fourth time this season - that the Illini have made 10-plus treys in a game.

• UI Finds Shooting Touch in Paradise: Illinois started the season by missing its first 24 three-pointers and was just 6-of-65 (9.2 percent) from long range through four games. But the Illini found their touch since going to Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands, hitting 80-of-213 (37.6 percent) from downtown in 11 games through the Iowa contest. Illinois cooled during the middle of Big Ten play, going 43-of-140 (30.7 percent) on treys in the seven games after the Iowa contest before hitting 19-of-50 (38 percent) against Minnesota and Northwestern. Illinois has made 43 more three-pointers than its opponents in its last 22 games, an average of +5.9 points per game.

• Illini Post Best Non-Conference Mark in 8 years: Illinois finished non-conference play with a 9-3 record, its best mark prior to the start of the Big Ten schedule in eight years, since the 2006-07 squad went 10-2 to start the season.

• Illini Surge Back at Mackey: Despite being limited to just 16 points in the first half, shooting 26.5 percent in the game, and suffering an 0-for-20 FG stretch in the first half, Illinois catapulted itself back from down by as many as 13 points to defeat Purdue, 47-46, on Feb. 21. Although she scored just seven points in the game, Ivory Crawford had three late steals that led to seven points in the Illini's comeback run, including forcing the turnover that would set up Kyley Simmons for the game-winning three-point shot - a trey to give Illinois its first lead of the afternoon with 1:16 to play in the game.

Although the buckets weren't falling, Illinois forced 10 more turnovers (22-12), out-scoring the opposition 17-8 on those TOs, and led 18-4 in steals to hold Purdue to just 46 points in the game and remain in a position to win.

The win marked the first for the Illini since 2005 at Mackey Arena and the second in West Lafayette against the perennial powerhouse since 1984.

The Illini have won just three games in program history while scoring less than 47 points, all three of which occurred in 1975. Illinois defeated Danville JC, 43-31, on Feb. 17, 1975, during the first season of Illinois women's basketball, then topped Northern Illinois, 46-44, on March 1, 1975, and defeated George Williams, 44-41, in the following season's opener on Dec. 1, 1975. The 47 points against Purdue are the fewest in an Illinois victory in the three-point era.

• Illini Stifle high-scoring buckeyes: Ohio State entered State Farm Center on Feb. 14 ranked eighth in the nation with an average of 80 points per game, but the Illini defense limited the Buckeye offense to just 55 points, tying their lowest point total of the year. The loss marked Ohio State's first double-digit margin of defeat in Big Ten play this season, dropping the other four by a total of 27 points.

The Illini held the nation's leading scorer, Kelsey Mitchell, scoreless for the first 16:38, limiting her to just one field goal in the first half. A key to the success was great rebounding, leading 40-31 off the glass, including 12 offensive boards. Additionally, the Illini forced 19 turnovers and led 8-3 in steals.

• Orange & Blue Knock Off #17 Iowa: The Illini upset No. 17 Iowa, 73-61, on Jan. 8, marking Illinois' second win over a ranked opponent this season and fourth in Matt Bollant's Illini career.

• Illini Notch Memorable Win at Penn State: Illinois beat Penn State 91-76 on Jan. 4, marking the Illini's first win in State College since 1998 and snapping an 11-game skid at the Bryce Jordan Center. UI sunk 12 three-pointers in the win, setting the school record for a conference game It also marked the most points the Illini have scored against Penn State since 1999 and only the third time Illinois has topped 90 against the Lady Lions.

• Simmons' Shooting Lights Out: Junior guard Kyley Simmons has caught fire from downtown, hitting 15-of-25 (60 percent) three-pointers over three games from Feb. 1-8 to vault up the three-point percentage leaderboards in the Big Ten and nationally. Her .409 (70-for-171) 3FG percentage is the best career mark in Illinois program history, ranking second in the Illini single-season record books, while sitting in eighth in the Big Ten and 33rd in the nation this season. She has made the fifth-most single-season three-pointers in Illinois history, and ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 51st in the NCAA with 2.6 per game.

Simmons went 0-for-1 at Nebraska on Jan. 29, only her second game this season without a trey, before draining four against Wisconsin, a career-high six against Minnesota and five at Northwestern. With her team trailing by nine late against Purdue, she hit two threes down the stretch, including the game-winning bucket with 1:16 to play, to lead the Illini to victory.

In addition to her propensity to shoot the three, Simmons leads the Big Ten in minutes played during conference play (38.8 mpg) and ranks eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5) in all games.

• Crawford Comes Back Strong: Senior guard Ivory Crawford - who ranks 12th in the Big Ten in scoring (15.3 ppg) - scored in double figures in 17-straight full games she played in, including six 20-point performances, before being limited to seven points at Purdue on Feb. 21. She suffered a knee injury after only five minutes against Iowa on Jan. 8 and missed the next six games before returning with 12 points and six rebounds against Wisconsin on Feb. 1. Crawford then nearly recorded what would have been the second triple-double in school history, posting 23 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds against Minnesota on Feb. 5. She is averaging 14.3 points, 4.5 rebounds 5.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game since returning from the injury.

• Grant Gets Going: Sophomore forward Jacqui Grant - who was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor roll on Feb. 9 - is 11th in the conference with 5.8 defensive boards per game in Big Ten play. She notched consecutive double-doubles - the fourth and fifth of her career - with 13 points and 12 rebounds against Northwestern on Jan. 22, and 17 points and 10 boards at Michigan on Jan. 26. Grant averaged 20.5 points and 8.0 rebounds against Minnesota and Northwestern to earn mention on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll and grabbed double-digit rebounds in four of six games from Jan. 8-26. She also scored in double figures in six of seven games from Jan. 22-Feb. 11 - including a career-high-tying 29 against Minnesota on Feb. 5 - averaging 13.6 ppg over that stretch.

• White Announces Her Presence with Authority: Chatrice White has put together one of the best freshman campaigns in Illinois history, breaking two freshman records and sitting in the top four in two more categories. The center became the all-time leading freshman scorer at Purdue on Feb. 21 with her 401st point, then broke the freshman blocking record against Michigan State on Feb. 25 with her 58th block. She ranks third among Illini freshmen in rebounding and fourth in steals, while her 58 blocks are seventh all-time amongst all players. A three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree (11/24, 12/8, 1/12), she ranks 19th in the conference in scoring (14.2 ppg) and 14th in rebounding (7.1 rpg). She has scored in double figures in 26 of Illinois' 29 games and has recorded six double-doubles.

White ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 59th nationally in blocks (2.0 bpg) and eighth in offensive rebounds (3.1 pg). She tied the UI single-game blocked shots record with seven at No. 8 Maryland (Jan. 18).

• Carter Makes It All Stick: Senior guard Brittany Carter has proved to be a stat-sheet stuffer after transferring from Ball State during the summer. She is averaging 8.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists, ranking third in the Big Ten and 30th in the nation with 2.7 steals per game. She ranks second in the Big Ten in conference games with 2.9 spg. She has 2+ assists in 24 games, 2+ steals in 21 games, and 5+ rebounds in 19 games.

• New Faces Contribute for Illini: Illinois head coach Matt Bollant played nine players in the season-opener against IPFW and six of them were making their debut in Orange and Blue. Senior transfer Brittany Carter, junior transfer Kyley Simmons, redshirt-freshman Kennedy Cattenhead, and true-freshmen Amarah Coleman, Brooke Kissinger and Chatrice White, all saw their first game action for Illinois against the Mastodons. Through 28 games, that sextet has scored 1,181 of Illinois' 1,930 points (61.2 percent) and has grabbed 50.3 percent of its rebounds (524 of 1,041).

• Crawford Starts Season Among 1,000-Point Club: Senior Ivory Crawford became only the 15th player in school history to score 1,000 points with eligibility remaining when she reached the milestone last season. She continues to climb up the list, currently in 15th with 1,371 points. Crawford needs three points to pass Kris Dupps (1991-95) for 14th place. She also sits in fifth in steals, seventh in three-pointers made and attempted, 13th in offensive rebounds and 20th in total rebounds, and 14th in free throws made and attempted. On Feb. 17, Crawford became the seventh Illini in program history to sink 100 career three-pointers, and needs 12 to reach Allison Curtin (1998-01) in sixth place.

Scouting the Spartans
• The Wolverines started the season 13-6, including 6-3 in Big Ten play, but have since lost six of their last nine games to fall to eighth place in the conference standings.

• Michigan runs an efficient offense, ranking second in the Big Ten and 11th in the nation in three-point percentage (.376) and second in the conference and 25th nationally in free throw percentage (.743). The Wolverines also rank 17th in the nation in assists per game (17.0), while pulling down the second-most offensive rebounds (14.4 pg) and having the second-best rebound defense (33.7 pg) in the conference.

• The Wolverines' offensive boards prowess stem from the league-leading 131 (4.7 pg) from senior Cyesha Goree, who averages a double-double with 14.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Michigan is led on offense by Katelynn Flaherty (15.0 ppg), and third-leading scorer Shannon Smith (13.8 ppg) averages 4.9 assists per game.

Series History Against Michigan State
Illinois leads the all-time series with Michigan, 40-31, including 20-11 in Champaign. However, the Wolverines have won the last six matchups with Illinois and 11 of the last 12, including their last five trips to State Farm Center. For a complete look at the series history, see page 8.

Last Time vs. Michigan State
Jacqui Grant recorded her second-straight double-double but Illinois shot less than 40 percent from the floor as Michigan took a 70-57 win at Crisler Center on Jan. 26. Grant led the way for Illinois with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Chatrice White as Illinois' only other player in double digits with 10 points. Brittany Carter had eight points, six assists and four steals. The Illini never got closer than 10 in the game's final 30 minutes.

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Hartwell

#0 Sarah Hartwell

Guard
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Taylor Gleason

#2 Taylor Gleason

Guard
5' 8"
Sophomore
Taylor Tuck

#3 Taylor Tuck

Guard/Forward
6' 0"
Senior
Nia Oden

#5 Nia Oden

Forward
5' 10"
Senior
Amarah Coleman

#10 Amarah Coleman

Guard
5' 11"
Freshman
Ashley McConnell

#12 Ashley McConnell

Guard
5' 9"
Sophomore
Mikaala Shackelford

#13 Mikaala Shackelford

Guard/Forward
5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
Kyley Simmons

#15 Kyley Simmons

Guard
5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
Brittany Carter

#20 Brittany Carter

Guard
6' 0"
Senior
Brooke Kissinger

#21 Brooke Kissinger

Guard
5' 7"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sarah Hartwell

#0 Sarah Hartwell

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Guard
Taylor Gleason

#2 Taylor Gleason

5' 8"
Sophomore
Guard
Taylor Tuck

#3 Taylor Tuck

6' 0"
Senior
Guard/Forward
Nia Oden

#5 Nia Oden

5' 10"
Senior
Forward
Amarah Coleman

#10 Amarah Coleman

5' 11"
Freshman
Guard
Ashley McConnell

#12 Ashley McConnell

5' 9"
Sophomore
Guard
Mikaala Shackelford

#13 Mikaala Shackelford

5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
Guard/Forward
Kyley Simmons

#15 Kyley Simmons

5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
Guard
Brittany Carter

#20 Brittany Carter

6' 0"
Senior
Guard
Brooke Kissinger

#21 Brooke Kissinger

5' 7"
Freshman
Guard