COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Fighting Illini women's basketball fell to the third-ranked Maryland Terrapins, 84-59, on Thursday evening inside the XFINITY Center. Sophomore Jaelyne Kirkpatrick contributed a career-high 13 points, and freshman Ali Andrews posted 14 points as both were hot from three-point range. The two made a combined 7-of-8 from downtown. Sophomore Alex Wittinger carded her ninth double-double of the season on Thursday as she tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Orange and Blue. The Illini drop to 8-17 on the season and 3-9 in Big Ten play.
"I am proud of our effort," head coach Matt Bollant said. "I thought we did a great job battling. I thought the end of the first half was the difference of the game. We were battling and fighting, but we just didn't score. We took a couple of quick shots, then we took some good shots that we just didn't make. To beat the third-ranked team in the country, you have to make all of those. I was really proud of our second half: how we battled and fought. I think we got outscored by just a few in the second half, our effort was really good. Brandi (Beasley) is just a special player. She didn't have a good shooting night, but she did a lot of other things. Then, Alex (Wittinger) added another double-double. I thought Jaelyne (Kirkpatrick) had her best offensive game of the year, knocking down shots and getting to the rim. There were definitely some good things tonight."
The Terps put the pressure on right from the start on Thursday despite five early points from Wittinger. Maryland knocked down 4-of-9 shots from distance in the first quarter to take a 26-12 lead into the second period. Andrews also added five points of her own to end the quarter for the Illini.
The Illini continued to fight out of the quarter break as Kirkpatrick and Andrews combined to hit consecutive three-pointers for the Orange and Blue. Illinois was tough on defense in the second frame, holding Maryland without a field goal for more than three minutes to start the quarter. The Terrapins maintained their advantage in the game, however, closing the half on a 10-0 run for a 40-20 halftime lead.
Andrews led the Illini with eight points in the first half as she was 3-for-4 from the floor and 2-for-2 from three-point range before the break. Freshman Brandi Beasley dished three assists, and combined with Wittinger for eight of UI's 13 first-half rebounds. Illinois netted five points off of 10 Maryland turnovers in the first half, but the Terrapins held UI to 27-percent shooting before the break.
Kirkpatrick led the Illini with seven points in the third quarter as she knocked down 3-of-5 from the floor to cross into double-figure scoring numbers. Holešínská, Beasley and Wittinger contributed to Illinois' scoring in the period. Beasley added two more assists in the third period, surpassing the century mark for the season. Beasley is one of just four freshmen in Illinois history to tally more than 100 assists in their rookie year as she finished the game with 102 total.
Beasley netted all 10 of her points in the second half on Thursday evening, while Wittinger also added 10 points after the break for Illinois. The Illini were hot in the final frame, shooting 50-percent from the floor. Wittinger led the Illini on that front as she was 3-for-5 in the final period. Illinois netted five second-half treys as well, shooting 64-percent from distance in the closing half. Beasley knocked down three free throws in the closing period, while freshman Courtney Joens dished a career-best two assists in the final frame.
Maryland shot 44-percent overall on the night, capitalizing with 20 points off of 18 Illinois turnovers. The Illini also forced 18 Terrapin miscues, and assisted on 63-percent of its field goals. Maryland outrebounded Illinois 53-31 on the night.
Illinois will return to Champaign to host Penn State on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The game will mark the annual Play4Kay Pink game supporting cancer awareness. The Illini will give away pink t-shirts to all fans. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the State Farm Center, and the game will be streamed on BTN Plus.
Team Notes
• The Fighting Illini moved to 8-17 overall and 3-9 in Big Ten play with a 84-59 loss to the No. 3 Maryland Terrapins on Thursday night.
• Illinois trails in the overall series, 7-0.
• Four Illini scored in double figures for the eighth time this season.
• Illinois netted 11 three-pointers on the night, the second-most in a game this season.
Individual Notes
-Sophomore Alex Wittinger recorded her ninth double-double of the season and 13th of her career with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
- The 13 career doubles-doubles rank ninth all-time in program history.
-With three blocks against Maryland, Wittinger has now posted 61 blocks this season, good for seventh all-time in the Illinois record books.
-Sophomore Jaelyne Kirkpatrick scored in double-figures for the third time this season and fourth time in her career.
-Kirkpatrick matched her career-high with three three-point field goals made.
-With six assists tonight, Beasley moved into third all-time among Illinois freshmen with 102 dimes this season.
-Beasley tallied her 18th double-figure scoring effort of the season.
-Freshman Ali Andrews recorded her fifth game in double-digits with 14 points against Maryland.
-Andrews netted four three-pointers in the game to match her career-best
