CHAMPAIGN – Fighting Illini women's basketball welcomed the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday for the annual Pack the House game. Sophomore Petra Holešínská posted a season-high 18 points in the contest, but the Badgers came away with the 70-61 victory. Illinois moves to 9-14 overall and 0-9 in Big Ten play.
Junior Alex Wittinger was also a main contributor for the Illini on Sunday, posting 18 points and hauling in six rebounds and four blocks. She was a perfect four of four at the free throw line. Sophomore Brandi Beasley joined Holešínská and Wittinger in double figures with 15 points, also posting five boards and three assists. The Illini welcomed a season-high 3,237 fans to the State Farm Center.
"It was a great crowd," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "I really appreciate the support we got and it made a big difference just walking out there and seeing the Orange and the support. I hope it is something that we can grow on as we get better."
Sophomore Courtney Joens struck first for the Illini, hitting a three to start the game and give Illinois the lead. Redshirt-sophomore Cierra Rice added another for the Orange and Blue to continue to build an advantage. Wisconsin began to heat up, and used six-consecutive points to switch the lead in their favor. Three-pointers from Holešínská and Beasley gave Illinois a 14-13 lead heading into the second frame. The Orange and Blue were 4-for-8 from distance to open the game.
UI continued to shoot the ball effectively to start the second quarter, knocking down their first four field goals, which included two more three-point field goals. The hot shooting led to a 10-2 run by Illinois in the first three and a half minutes of the period. A tough Wisconsin defense allowed the badgers to respond with an 8-0 run of their own to tie things up. Wittinger ended the Badger run with a jumper for Illinois, and Beasley added another bucket before halftime to keep the Illini on top. UI took a 28-27 lead into the locker room at the half.
Illinois shot 50-percent from distance in the first half, knocking down 6-of-12 from three-point range, and the team shot 40.7-percent from the floor. The Illini held Wisconsin to just 30-percent shooting before the break. Holešínská led Illinois with nine first-half points on 3-for-5 shooting from distance. Wittinger also contributed eight points before the break, adding four rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Illini and the Badgers again traded the lead after the halftime break, Wisconsin outscored Illinois 22-15 in the third quarter to pull ahead to a 49-43 lead. Wittinger came out hot to start the second half, netting two jumpers in a row for Illinois. Wisconsin responded with a 7-0 run, jumping out to a three-point lead. Holešínská and Wittinger combined for back-to-back buckets to stop the Badger run and put UI back on top, but Wisconsin continued to push.
Holešínská was a major contributor for the Orange and Blue after halftime, posting eight third-quarter points. She combined with Wittinger for 14 of Illinois' points in the third frame.
UI worked to cut into Wisconsin's lead in the final frame, using a 6-0 run to pull within five. Wisconsin responded, posting five-consecutive points of their own to again pull away. Illinois closed the game on a 6-0 run, but it was not enough to overcome Wisconsin. The Illini scored 18 points off of Wisconsin turnovers, but the Badgers capitalized with 13 second chance points in the contest.
"The losses have all hurt," Fahey said. "We had a lead at halftime. I don't think you can win games where you think you are going to get beat. I think that they understood and we understood that this was our next game up and we wanted to win. The kids practiced extremely hard over the last two days. Wanting this is not what this is about. Everyone wants this."
Next up, UI will head out on the road for a Feb. 1 matchup at Nebraska. The Illini and the Huskers face off at 7 p.m. in Lincoln. Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois women's basketball.
Team Notes
- Illinois used its sixth different starting lineup on Sunday afternoon (Beasley, Rice, Cattenhead, Jones, Wittinger).
- UI played in front of a season-high 3,237 fans at the State Farm Center.
Individual Notes
- Sophomore G Petra Holešínská scored a season-high 18 points on 6-for-14 shooting.
- Junior F Alex Wittinger moved into fourth place on the single season blocked shots list with four blocks against Wisconsin. Wittinger now has 64 blocked shots this season.
- Wittinger is now tied with Tiffanie Guthrie at No. 8 on the career offensive rebounding list with 276.
