CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women's basketball celebrated senior day on Saturday, honoring guard Ashley McConnell prior to an afternoon contest against the Indiana Hoosiers. Illinois pulled out to an early lead in the game after an energetic start, but the Hoosiers pushed back to ultimately earn a 74-60 victory over the Orange and Blue. Freshman Brandi Beasley led Illinois with 16 points and five rebounds, while freshman Petra Holešínská and redshirt junior Kennedy Cattenhead each added 13 points of their own. The Illini close the regular season with an 8-21 record overall and a 3-13 mark in Big Ten play.
"Ashely {McConnell} is one of the greatest kids I have ever coached," head coach Matt Bollant said of Illinois' only senior this season, "She's a great role model for young kids as far as having the right attitude and putting the team first. When the players put the team before themselves, that's what means the most to you and she did that extremely well, and has done that for four years."
The Illini were energetic right from the start on senior day as sophomore Alex Wittinger started the scoring just seconds into the game. The Illini pulled ahead to a quick advantage, leading the Hoosiers by 10 at one point in the opening frame. Cattenhead put up eight early points to lead the Illini in the first quarter, while Beasley also contributed seven points to give the Illini a 19-11 lead heading into the second period. Illinois held Indiana to just 22-percent shooting to start the game and shut the Hoosiers out from distance as Indiana went 0-for-7 from three-point range. The Illini outrebounded Indiana 12-10 to open the game, while shooting almost 47-percent from the floor.
"I am proud of our first quarter," head coach Matt Bollant said. "I thought we played with a lot of heart and energy. I thought Kennedy {Cattenhead} got us off to a great start and played really well. We got a good start in the second quarter but we didn't finish the way we wanted to. I give Indiana a lot of credit. {Amanda} Cahill was great on the boards and {Tyra) Buss is obviously a really great player. They pass the ball so well and make it tough to defend. I give them credit, and now, we are on to the Big Ten Tournament."
The Illini stayed hot into the second quarter as Holešínská and freshman Courtney Joens combined for back-to-back three-pointers to start the period. The Hoosiers began to fight back, however, using a 10-0 run to cut into Illinois' lead. Beasley added four points in the second quarter, leading all scorers with 11 first-half points. Illinois worked to maintain its lead throughout the period, but the Hoosiers capitalized from the charity stripe, making 8-of-8 foul shots in the second quarter to pull ahead to a 35-33 lead at the half.
Cattenhead was also among scoring leaders with 10 points at the half. She knocked down 5-of-5 free throws before the break, and Beasley was also perfect from the line. Illinois netted eight points off of six IU turnovers, but the Hoosiers forced eight Illini miscues in the first half, also swiping six steals.
Freshman Ali Andrews led Illinois in the third quarter posting five of Illinois' eight points. She knocked down a huge three-pointer for the Orange and Blue and netted two foul shots. Indiana, was tough on defense, holding Illinois to just eight points in the period while pulling ahead to a 10-point advantage. The Hoosiers capitalized with nine second chance-points in the third quarter, outrebounding Illinois 16-5.
Holešínská kicked things off for the Illini in the fourth quarter, but Indiana pushed ahead with a 6-0 run. Joens wasn't having that, however, as she netted two three-pointers for the Illini to slow down the Hoosiers. Holešínská also added two treys in the fourth quarter to help close the gap. Illinois and Indiana traded buckets to close the game, and Illinois capitalized with six points off of two Hoosier turnovers, but the Illini could not catch Indiana, falling 74-60.
Next up, the Illini head to postseason play as the 2017 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament will be held March 1-5 at Banker's Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. All games will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network, but the Championship game on March 5 will air live on ESPN2. Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for all the latest on Illinois women's basketball.
Team Notes
• Illinois ended its regular season campaign with an 8-21 record overall and 3-13 in Big Ten play after a 74-60 loss to Indiana.
• The Illini trail in the all-time series against the Hoosiers, 39-30.
• Three Illini scored in double-figures on Saturday afternoon. The Orange and Blue have had two or more players score in double-digits in all but two games this season.
• Illinois shot 80-percent from the free throw line on Saturday marking the 12th game this year that Illinois has made 80-percent or more of its foul shots
Individual Notes
• Senior Ashley McConnell played her final game in the State Farm Center on Saturday afternoon, earning her 10th career start and her 94th appearance in the Orange and Blue.
• Sophomore Alex Wittinger swatted two blocks on the day, moving her season total to 74. She needs just four more to tie Karisma Penn for Illinois' single-season blocks record.
• Wittinger grabbed three offensive boards Saturday, moving into the No. 11 spot all-time for her 95 offensive rebounds this season.
• Freshman Petra Holešínská scored in double-digits for the 15th time this season.
• Freshman Brandi Beasley scored in double-figures for the 21st game this season.
• Redshirt-junior Kennedy Cattenhead scored in double-digits for the 9th time this season and 18th time in her career.
