MEMPHIS – Fighting Illini women's basketball used a strong fourth quarter to overcome the Memphis Tigers 63-47. The Orange and Blue held Memphis to just three points in the final frame to pull ahead of the Tigers and secure the victory. With Sunday's win, Illinois improves to 6-4 on the season.
Four Illini scored in double digits, led by redshirt senior Kennedy Cattenhead who tallied 15 points. Junior Alex Wittinger was also among team leaders as she posted her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds, also contributing four blocks on the day. Sophomores Petra Holešínská and Ali Andrews also closed the game in double-figures, each knocking down multiple three-pointers.
"That is something that we are trying to find with this team, that fight," head coach Nancy Fahey said of Illinois' late push. "We keep talking about it and I just felt really proud of them. It really was time for us to come back. It wasn't an easy run in the closing quarter but that showed a lot of character that we are trying to build."
Memphis native, Brandi Beasley, got the first points of the day with two early foul shots as the Illini used a 6-0 run to take an early lead over Memphis. The two teams battled through the opening quarter, however, and the Tigers kept the game close. The Orange and Blue forced seven Memphis turnovers in the first quarter, and took a one-point lead heading into the next frame.
Junior Jaelyne Kirkpatrick sunk a layup for the Illini to start the second quarter, but Memphis continued to respond. The two teams traded buckets throughout the period, but the Tigers used a 12-3 run to take a five-point lead. Holešínská netted her first three-pointer of the day to stop the Memphis run and keep the Illini close. At the half, Memphis held a 33-29 advantage over the Illini.
Cattenhead led the Illini with 11 points at the half, also adding three boards and a steal. Beasley racked of three of Illinois' five first-half steals as Illinois forced 11 Tiger turnovers before the break. She finished with four steals overall, matching her career-high number for the third time.
Memphis extended its lead to start the third quarter, but Illinois responded with a 9-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Andrews and Holešínská. The Illini played tough defense to start the second half, holding Memphis to just 29-percent shooting in the third quarter.
Trailing by just three to start the fourth quarter, redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice cut the Illini deficit to one with a layup out of the break. She drove to the hoop for another layup to give Illinois a one-point lead. The Tigers responded to keep it close, but the Illini closed the game with an 18-1 run to secure the victory. Illinois netted 6-of-6 free throws in that span, and only allowed Memphis one free throw in the final 7:47 of play.
Illinois shot 40-percent on Sunday, holding the Tigers to 33-percent shooting overall and just 7.7-percent shooting in the fourth quarter. The Orange and Blue forced 20 Memphis turnovers, scoring 20 points off of those miscues.
Next up, Illinois will return to Champaign to host Indiana State on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. The game will mark the start of Illinois' toy drive, collecting toys to benefit to Toys for Tots.
Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois women's basketball.
TEAM NOTES
-With today's victory, the Illini improve to 5-3 all-time against the Memphis Tigers and 2-2 all-time in Memphis.
-Illinois earned its first true road win since Feb. 2, 2016 at Wisconsin.
-The Illini held Memphis to just 43 points, the fewest by an Illinois opponent this season.
-UI held the Tigers to three points in the fourth quarter, the fewest by an Illinois opponent in a single quarter this season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Redshirt-senior G Kennedy Cattenhead scored in double figures for the fourth time this season and 23rd time in her career.
- Junior F Alex Wittinger recorded a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) for the fourth time this season and 18thtime in her career.
- Wittinger had four blocks in the contest. The Delano, Minnesota, native has recorded a block in every game this season.
- Sophomore G Petra Holešínská scored in double figures for the third time this season and 19th time in her career.
