Champaign, Ill. - The Fighting Illini gave the No. 7-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes a run for their money on Monday, knocking down a season-high 12 three-pointers to take an early lead in the game. Sophomore Brooke Kissinger knocked down five of those treys for a career-best 15 points, while Chatrice White led the Orange and Blue with 26 points. It wasn't enough, however, to hold off the Buckeyes as the Illini fell 80-70 on the night. Illinois is now 8-13 on the season and 1-9 in Big Ten play. Ohio State improves to 9-1 in conference games.
"I'm really proud of our team," head coach Matt Bollant said following the game. "I thought we fought really hard in the second half to give ourselves a chance. Not getting to the foul line was a big difference maker. I also felt like we didn't get the right shots or we didn't make the shots that we needed to make down the stretch to beat the seventh-ranked team in the country. I thought our defense in the third quarter was probably the best it has been all year. I thought we played a pretty good game, we just didn't finish it."
Seven Illini found the net for UI on Monday, and three players put up double-figure scoring numbers. Both White and freshman Alex Wittinger grabbed 10 rebounds in the game, helping the Illini to a 45-37 advantage on the boards. Illinois capitalized on 16 offensive rebounds, putting up 13 second chance points. Illinois has now out-rebounded four of its last five opponents has has not been out-rebounded since facing Rutgers on Jan. 13.
The Illini started out hot from distance in the first quarter, starting 4-for-4 from three-point range on the way to 5-of-7 shooting from the three-point line in the first period. Illinois took a 21-20 advantage into the second quarter, led by Brooke Kissinger who racked up nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from distance. White also added seven points for the Illini in the first quarter. It didn't stop at the scoring, however, as the Illini went hard on the glass out-rebounding Ohio State, 13-8 to start the game. Ohio State made just one first-quarter trey on 16-percent shooting from beyond the arc.
"It felt good to help my team out," Kissinger said of her hot start. "I think overall, as we're getting deeper into the season we are doing a really good job of ball movement, that's an area we have really improved in. I'm really proud of the team, we'll get a win eventually. We're going to keep battling and working hard in practice."
The Illini were hot from three in the second period as well, knocking down nine three-pointers before the halftime break. That number marks the most threes that the Orange and Blue have dropped in a half this season. Not only did Kissinger knock down four three-pointers in the first half, but White added four of her own before the break. The Illini were shooting 60-percent from distance in the first half, and grabbed 21 rebounds to Ohio State's 16. Illinois maintained its advantage in the game through most of the second quarter, but an 8-0 Buckeye run with just under three minutes left in the half gave Ohio State the lead. Once again, however, a clutch Kissinger triple ended the OSU run, and White followed up with a three-pointer of her own. Redshirt senior Kyley Simmons added a layup at the buzzer to cut into the Buckeye lead before heading into the locker room.
UI came out strong from the halftime break, going on an 11-2 run to start the third quarter and once again take the lead. The two teams traded the lead back-and-forth throughout the third period, with the Buckeyes leading 59-58 at the end of the period. After recording just three turnovers in the first half of play, Illinois forced seven Buckeye turnovers in the third quarter.
Illinois tied things up to start off the final period of play, but Ohio State pushed its way back on top. Another Kissinger triple helped keep the Illini close, but Ohio State held on to its lead in the game. There were 14 lead changes throughout the contest, and the score was tied 10 times.
"It's frustrating, but this game really just showed how hard we have worked," White said of the team's resilience. "To stay within 10 points and even less, with the No. 7 team in the country is a really big accomplishment. We just have to find a way to play a complete game. I think this game we probably played as close to that as we have in the last few games."
The Illini will have a quick turnaround, hosting Northwestern on Thursday. The game will tipoff at 7 p.m. And mark Daddy Daughter Date Night featuring a special ticket deal. For just $20 fans will receive two tickets, two concessions vouchers and two Fighting Illini prize packs. Fighting Illini sophomores Brooke Kissinger, Chatrice White and Kennedy Cattenhead will sign autographs following the contest.
Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for the latest on Illinois women's basketball.
Notes
-Illinois started the game strong from distance, knocking down five three-pointers in the first quarter. Brooke Kissinger made three of those, she was 3-for-3 from three-point range in the first period.
-With a 21-20 advantage after the first quarter, Illinois is just the second unranked opponent to lead Ohio State after the first quarter this season.
-Sarah Hartwell hit the first three-pointer of the night for Illinois, her first trey in four games.
-Illinois' nine first-half three-pointers marks the most for the Orange and Blue in a half this season. Illinois' previous high was eight at Memphis on Dec. 19. Illinois finished with 12 threes in the game, tying its season best mark which was also set at Memphis and again matched against South Dakota on Dec. 22.
-The Illini reserves made a major impact in the first half, outscoring Ohio State's bench 14-2 in the first half. The Illini bench finished with 19 points.
-Sophomore center Chatrice White tallied 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds good for her seventh 20+ point scoring game this season and the 12th of her career. She's got 13 double-doubles on the year and 19 in her career as well.
-Sophomore guard Brooke Kissinger knocked down a career-best five three-pointers in the game, good for a career-high 15 points overall.
-This week's Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Alex Wittinger finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, good for her second consecutive double-double and her fifth double-double this season. This marks the first time in her career she has recorded a double-double in back-to-back games.
