ALBUQUERQUE – Sophomore Ali Andrews knocked down a career-high 26 points on 6-of-8 three-point shooting on Saturday, helping to lead the Illini over the Wichita State Shockers, 68-67. It was a gritty battle that came down to the wire as Andrews secured Illinois' victory with two last-minute free throws. Sophomore Brandi Beasley also put up double-figures in the matchup, adding 15 points and four assists. The Illini improve to 5-2 on the year and will close play at the UNM Thanksgiving Tournament tomorrow against New Mexico.
"I thought we had a really good start," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "Obviously in the middle of the third quarter we had a little lapse, I think we're going to have to work on some late-game inbounding stuff. But bottom line, we won."
Saturday's game started out as a back-and-forth affair, as both teams traded shots and the lead to start the game. Illinois pulled ahead in the first quarter, however, using an 8-2 run to gain the advantage. Andrews led the Illini to open the game, knocking down 2-of-3 shots from distance and going 3-for-4 from the floor. She led all scorers with eight first-quarter points and also added a steal to her stat line.
"At times they were quiet, I didn't realize it," Fahey said of Andrews' career-high 26 points. "At one point, I knew she was knocking down shots and we tried to get her the ball a few times, but a lot of those were hers. Those were hustle points. She did a great job."
The Orange and Blue held the Shockers to just nine points on 29-percent shooting in the second quarter, the second-lowest point total for an Illini opponent this season. Beasley contributed six of UI's 14 points in the second frame, as the Illini took a 10-point lead into halftime. Illinois assisted on seven of its 13 first-half field goals, and forced six Wichita State turnovers before the break.
The Shockers pushed to close in on the Orange and Blue after the break, using an 11-2 run to tie the game at 37. Redshirt senior Kennedy Cattenhead quickly put the Illini back on top with a three-point play, and Andrews closed the period with two three-pointers to secure Illinois' advantage heading into the final quarter.
The Orange and Blue worked to pull away in the fourth quarter, but Wichita State knocked down five consecutive points to cut the Illini lead to just one (62-61). Despite back-to-back buckets from Beasley and Andrews, it came down to the wire in the last two minutes of action. Wichita State used another run to take a 67-66 lead with just 30 seconds on the clock. Andrews came back to secure the Illini win from the free throw line.
The Illini knocked down a season-best nine three-pointers on Saturday, and held Wichita State to just 27-percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Illinois will face the home team, New Mexico, tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. CT. Fans can listen to the live audio stream on FightingIllini.com, or tune in on WDWS. The game will also be live streamed at GoLobos.com.
Team Notes
- Illinois improves to 2-1 all-time against the Wichita State Shockers.
- UI hit a season-best nine three-pointers.
- The Illini shot a season-best 43-percent from behind the arc.
Individual Notes
- Junior F Alex Wittinger moved into sole possession of fifth place on the Illinois All-Time Career Blocks list. Wittinger has recorded 138 blocks during her time in the Orange and Blue, including a block in each of Illinois' first seven games this season. She had two against Wichita State.
- Sophomore F Ali Andrews scored a career-high 26 points.
- Andrews matched her career-best of six three-point field goals made.
- Andrews made a career-high nine field goals.
- Andrews 26 points is the second 20-point performance of her career.
- With 10 points, redshirt senior G Kennedy Cattenhead scored in double-figures for the third time this season and 22nd time in her career.
- Sophomore G Brandi Beasley scored in double-figures for the fifth time this season and 28th time in her career.
- Junior G Jaelyne Kirkpatrick matched her season-high five assists.
