CHAMPAIGN – Fighting Illini women's basketball held the Michigan State Spartans to just one field goal in the fourth quarter, but fell short in Tuesday's contest, 67-55. Sophomore Brandi Beasley and redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice posted season-high scoring numbers in the contest as Beasley tied her season-high with 19 points, also adding five rebounds and two assists. Rice tallied 13 points in the contest, and added a block and a steal on the defensive end. The Fighting Illini fall to 9-11 on the season and 0-6 in Big Ten play.
"We just have to keep fighting," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "I am proud of this team because every time, they could get really tired and hang it up, but they don't."
Illinois took an early lead over the Spartans, as Illini sophomore Courtney Joens earned her first career start. Beasley knocked down consecutive shots to put the Illini ahead by four in the first quarter, but Michigan State responded to tie the score. Junior Alex Wittinger and Rice combined for a 10-3 Illini run to help the Orange and Blue build a seven-point lead over Michigan State. Illinois held an 18-16 advantage heading into the second quarter. Rice led the Illini with seven points to start the game, while Wittinger was also a major contributor with five points and six of Illinois' 11 rebounds.
Beasley turned up the heat for Illinois in the second quarter, posting seven of Illinois' 11 points to move into double figures for the second-straight game. The Spartans used a 12-2 run in the quarter to jump ahead of the Illini and take a 34-29 lead into halftime. The Orange and Blue were a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe to start the game, and forced seven Spartan turnovers in the half. Beasley led all scorers with 13 points in the first half, while Wittinger led all players on the glass with six first-half boards.
Illinois continued to hold strong after the break, holding the Spartans without a three-pointer until the 1:34 mark of the third quarter. Michigan State outrebounded Illinois 12-5 in the quarter, and shot 56 percent from the field to extend its lead and take a 58-44 lead at the end of the period.
The Illini outscored Michigan State 11-9 in the final frame, holding the Spartans to just one field goal in the period. Illinois used a 7-0 run to cut into Michigan State's advantage, and held the Spartans scoreless for over six minutes in the period. The Spartans held off the Illini surge and knocked down six free throws in the final minutes to seal the win.
Illinois held Michigan State to 16.7-percent shooting from three-point range, but the Spartans scored 23 points off of 17 Illini turnovers.
"I think the turnovers did it for us," Fahey said. "We just don't have a lot of room for errors. We can't give them live turnovers; we can't give them points like that. We normally shoot better from the free throw line, and the three-point line kind of hurt us tonight too."
Next up, the Illini will kick off a two-game road swing at Michigan. The Orange and Blue tip off against the Wolverines at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday.
Team Notes
· Illinois held Michigan State to just 16.7-percent from behind the arc, the lowest by an Illinois opponent this season.
· The Illini allowed just one Michigan State field goal in the fourth quarter. The Spartans went 10:34 without a made field goal.
Individual Notes
· Redshirt sophomore G Cierra Rice scored in double figures for the first time this season with 13 points.
· Sophomore G Brandi Beasley matched her season-high point total with 19.
· Sophomore G Courtney Joens made her first career start.
· Freshman F Jnaya Walker recorded her first career block.
