UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Fighting Illini junior Alex Wittinger reached several milestones on Tuesday evening, scoring her 1,000th career point on a last-second free throw. Wittinger led Illinois with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 11 blocked shots. Wittinger's 11 rejections mark a new Illinois school record, and she is the second Illini to record a triple-double in school history and the first since 1982.
"We are really happy for Alex for getting her 1000th point," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "Tonight was exciting for her. I know we wanted to do it a different way, but we didn't, obviously. Although that's an individual accomplishment, I know that she appreciates her teammates' passes and ability to help her reach that goal. She was phenomenal inside, defensively, as well."
Sophomore Brandi Beasley and redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice joined Wittinger in double-figure scoring numbers on Tuesday, adding 15 points and 10 points, respectively. The Illini kept things close to Penn State throughout the contest but could not overcome the Lady Lions, falling 68-59. Illinois drops to 9-13 overall and 0-8 in Big Ten play.
Illini sophomores Ali Andrews and Courtney Joens combined for Illinois' first five points as the Orange and Blue pulled ahead to an early lead over Penn State. Rice and Wittinger also combined for five-consecutive Illini points in the first frame, but the Nittany Lions closed the first period on a 10-1 run to take a 14-11 advantage into the second quarter.
Illinois continued to pressure Penn State in the second frame, as Beasley put the Illini within just one point to start the quarter. Both Petra Holešínská and Wittinger knocked down shots to cut into PSU's lead, but the Lady Lions continued to hold on to the advantage. At the half, leading Illinois with six points and six rebounds, Wittinger had already racked up five rejections. Illinois committed 11 first-half turnovers, but scored five points off of four Penn State miscues.
Joens knocked down a three-pointer early in the third quarter for Illinois as the Orange and Blue continued to fight against Penn State's lead. Wittinger was strong on defense as she added three more blocks to her tally in the third frame, matching her career-high and Illinois' single-game record with eight total rejections. The Illini cut Penn State's lead to just five midway through the third quarter, but the Lady Lions used an 8-0 run to again pull ahead. The Illini shot 54.5-percent in the third quarter, and held Penn State to just 35-percent shooting.
The Illini and the Lady Lions traded buckets throughout the final frame, both posting 20 points to close the contest. Despite an 8-0 Illini run from Beasley, in the fourth quarter, Illinois could not catch Penn State. Illinois held Penn State to 23.1-percent shooting in the period, and the Illini knocked down 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. Wittinger was perfect from the stripe to end the game and reach the millennium mark, and also added three rejections to secure the school record.
The Illini will host Wisconsin on Sunday for the annual Pack the House game. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. on the Big Ten Network, and admission is free for all fans.
Team Notes
- Illinois had 13 blocked shots against Penn State, which matches the most in a single game in program history set on January 27, 2011 against the NIttany Lions.
- The 13 team blocked shots is tied for the seventh-most in the nation this season.
Individual Notes
- Junior F Alex Wittinger recorded the program's second triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 11 blocked shots. The first triple-double came on January 22, 1982 by Kim Brombolich vs. Eastern Michigan (13 points, 11 rebounds, 15 assists).
- Wittinger is just second player in the Big Ten Conference to record a triple-double this season and 17th player in the nation.
- Wittinger is the first Illini in program history to earn a triple-double with points, rebounds and blocked shots.
- Wittinger recorded the fifth points-rebounds-blocks triple-double in the nation this season, joining Kate Cain of Nebraska (22-14-11 vs. FAU), Chyna Ellis of South Alabama (12-10-10 vs. Coastal Carolina), Channon Fluker of Cal State Northridge (28-16-13 vs. Seattle) and Abby Rendle of William & Mary (25-14-10 at East Carolina).
- Wittinger scored her 1,000th career point on a free throw at Penn State.
- Wittinger reset the Illinois single-game blocked shots record with 11 against Penn State.
- The 11 blocked shots is tied for the sixth-most in a Big Ten game in conference history and tied for the second-most blocks in a game this season.
- Wittinger moved into eighth place on the Illinois single-season blocked shots list with 60 this season.
- Wittinger's 11 blocks are the most by an NCAA women's opposing basketball player at Bryce Jordan Center.
- Redshirt-sophomore Cierra Rice had a season-high 10 points.
