West Lafayette, Ind. - Despite a major fourth-quarter comeback, Illinois dropped its second Big Ten game on Sunday afternoon, falling to Purdue, 69-65. The Illini fall to 7-6 on the season and 0-2 in Big Ten Play, while Purdue improves to 11-2 overall. The Illini came back to score 46 points in the second half and make it a one-possession game after scoring 19 points in the first half. Illinois held the Boilermakers to just two three-pointers in the game, and sophomore Chatrice White earned her eighth double-double of the season.
"I thought we showed a lot of heart in the second half," head coach Matt Bollant said. " I was really proud of Jaelyne {Kirkpatrick}, I thought she played really well, she brought a lot of energy and a lot of life. Chatrice {White} played really well in the second half as well and Kyley {Simmons} also stepped up. Those three really got us going in the second half. Unfortunately we missed some layups in the first four minutes of the game and that really affected our confidence and swagger in that first half."
After making back-to-back buckets to start the game, the Illini held Purdue without any points for more than three minutes to start the first quarter. The Illini allowed just 14 first-quarter points from the Boilermakers, the third consecutive opponent that has scored just 14 points in the first quarter this season. White put up four points to lead the Illini in the period, but a nicely-timed three-pointer from Kyley Simmons helped give the Illini some life before the quarter break.
The Boilermakers opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run, forcing Illinois to take a timeout around the eight-minute mark. White snapped the run for the Boilermakers, and Kyley Simmons added another layup for good measure. Purdue would not go away, however, and the Boilermakers continued to outscore the Illini, 19-10 in the second quarter.
At the half, White led the Orange and Blue with eight points, while freshman Alex Wittinger contributed six of her own. White was on her way to another double-double with seven rebounds, and she had also tallied two blocks before the halftime break. The Illini had grabbed 20 rebounds to Purdue's 17 in the first half, and assisted on seven of eight first-half field goals.
Illinois came out of halftime energized and ready to play. Trailing by 17 early in the period, the Orange and Blue used a 7-0 run in the third quarter to help cut the Boilermaker lead and pull within nine. Purdue, turned things around, however, using a 7-3 run of its own to again pull away from the Orange and Blue. The Illini knocked down four three-pointers in the third quarter, including two from Simmons, who finished with two threes in the game. UI outscored Purdue in the third quarter, putting up 17 total points. Illinois continued to pressure the Boilermakers, outscoring them 29-20 in the fourth quarter as well.
"I think we were more aggressive," Bollant said of the team's play in the second half. "We were more confident and we got Chatrice more touches in that second half. We got going and made some shots too, but we definitely looked more confident. In the first half we missed some shots right away and we held on to it, we have to grow from that."
The Orange and Blue again cut the Boilermaker deficit in the fourth quarter, using a 12-4 run to make up some ground. UI kept up the energy throughout the period, making it a four-point game in the last minute of play. The Illini made it a one-possession game at the end, but Purdue took advantage from the charity stripe to stay on top.
The Illini scored 23 points off of 17 Purdue turnovers, and allowed just two three-pointers from the Boilermakers all game. The total is the second-lowest for an Illinois opponent all season. The Illini grabbed 11 offensive rebounds in the game, but Purdue won on the boards grabbing 40 total to Illinois 38.
The Illini return to the State Farm Center on Jan. 7, hosting Minnesota in an 8 p.m. Contest. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network.
Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest on Illinois Women's Basketball.
Notes
-The Illini slide to 7-6 on the season and 0-2 in Big Ten play with Sunday's 69-65 loss at Purdue, extending their losing streak to five games.
-The Illini started a new lineup for just the third time this season as Kyley Simmons, Sarah Hartwell, Kennedy Cattenhead, Alex Wittinger and Chatrice White started for the Illini.
-After scoring twice to start off the game, the Illini held the Boilermakers scoreless for more than three minutes in the first quarter.
-With 18 points and 11 rebounds on the day, Chatrice White earned her eighth double-double of the season. She's got 14 in her career.
-Senior Eriel Davis made her second appearance for the Illini this season, recording her first points of the year in the fourth quarter. She scored two points in two minutes on the court.
-Illinois allowed Purdue just two three-pointers in the game, the second-lowest total for an Illinois opponent this season as Illinois held Chicago State without a single trey in the first game of the year.
-Freshman Jaelyne Kirkpatrick matched her career-best with two treys in the game. The Illini knocked down six treys as a team.
