CHAMPAIGN – Fighting Illini women's basketball picked up its third victory of the season on Sunday, defeating the Columbia Lions, 76-69. Redshirt junior Cierra Rice led Illinois with a career-high 23 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the floor. Four Illini finished in double-figures on Sunday afternoon, also including senior Alex Wittinger who recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Illinois improves to 3-0 on the year, and will hit the road for the Cal Poly ShareSLO Holiday Beach Classic next week.

"I have a lot of respect for Columbia and I knew they would come in ready to play," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "I thought our team had poise today. Columbia made some runs but never took the lead, we just had to keep answering. We didn't send them to the free throw line, that was big. We've been winning that battle this year, which has been important."

Rice got things started for Illinois on Sunday afternoon, netting a three-pointer right off the bat. Andrews followed that up with a layup, helping to build a lead that the Orange and Blue would maintain throughout the game. The Illini waged a balanced attack from the start as six different players contributed to a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Illini defense was strong as well, holding Columbia to just 15.4-percent shooting in the opening quarter.

Columbia picked up steam in the second quarter, coming within three of the Orange and Blue in the period. Illinois, however, continued to hold the advantage in the game, taking a 38-34 lead into the halftime break. Andrews led Illinois in the second quarter, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers. The Illini knocked down six treys in the first half, as Scott and Rice each contributed two threes as well. Illinois outrebounded Columbia, 20-14, to open the game, and the Illini capitalized with seven second chance points in the first half.

The Illini came out of the break hot, as Rice and junior Courtney Joens combined for seven-straight points to pull away from the Lions. The Orange and Blue also used a 9-0 run in the third quarter to extend their advantage in the game.  UI was tough on defense after halftime, Wittinger picked up two blocks in the third quarter, and the Illini continued to outrebound Columbia.  Eight different Illini contributed to UI's scoring in the third quarter as well, led by Rice's 3-for-3 shooting.

Columbia worked to cut into the Illini lead in the final frame, but the Orange and Blue pushed back to keep their advantage until the final buzzer. Rice secured the victory for Illinois with a three-pointer in the final minute of play. Rice netted five of Illinois' nine treys on the night, going 5-for-6 from distance.

"She came in early and was shooting today, she was locked in," Fahey said of Rice's career performance. "We mentioned that focus she had even during shootaround, and it paid off today with that big shot."

The Illini did not allow a free throw from the Lions in the second half of play, and forced 10 Columbia turnovers in the game. Illinois outrebounded Columbia 44-34 led by Wittinger's 10 boards. Junior Brandi Beasley also added nine rebounds for the Orange and Blue, while Andrews matched her career-best with eight.

NEXT UP

The Orange and Blue will hit the road for the Thanksgiving weekend, heading to San Luis Obispo, California for the Cal Poly ShareSLO Holiday Beach Classic. Illinois will take on Cal Poly on Friday, Nov. 23 (4 p.m. CT) before facing Sacramento State on Saturday (4 p.m. CT). 

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Team Notes

• Illinois' win over Columbia marks the Illini's second victory against an Ivy League school, the first being Yale during the 1998-99 season. The Orange and Blue lead the series 2-0.
• The Illini scored 26 points in the paint and scored a game-high 22 points in the third period.
• Four players scored in double figures, all coming from upperclassmen.

Individual Notes

• Redshirt junior Cierra Rice led the Illini in scoring with a career-high 23 points, surpassing her previous career-high of 22. Rice also had a career-high field goals made, going 8-for-9 today.
• Senior Alex Wittinger led the team with 10 rebounds and recorded a season-high three assists.
  • Wittinger has recorded 41 points this season, making a new career total of 1,203. This moves her up to No. 19 all-time on Illinois' career-points list.
  • With 18 field goals made this season, Wittinger moves up in the record books to No. 11 with 536 career field goals.
• Junior Ali Andrews tied a career-high of eight rebounds in this afternoon's victory.