CHAMPAIGN - Fighting Illini women's basketball earned its seventh home victory of the season on Saturday evening, defeating the SIUE Cougars, 74-57, inside the State Farm Center. Three Illini scored in double-figures led by senior Alex Wittinger who closed play with 19 points and eight rebounds. Junior Brandi Beasley knocked down 13 points while also dishing five of Illinois' 21 assists on the night. Ali Andrews tallied 12 points and five rebounds as well. The Orange and Blue improve to 8-2 on the season and will host Missouri at 12 p.m. on Dec. 21.
"We picked up a win tonight," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "I thought SIUE shot the ball really well to start the game, I think it took us a little bit to adjust. After we did that, we locked down much better in the second half defensively, which gave us more points offensively. It's kind of been our trademark to play a lot of kids, and I think that if we continue to stay focused for 40 minutes, then good things like this will happen."
The Illini and the Cougars stayed close throughout the first half of play on Saturday night as the two teams traded the lead 12 times before the break. Wittinger was strong for the Illini out of the gates, posting 10 first-quarter points to lead the Orange and Blue. She knocked down 3-of-3 from the charity stripe in the opening frame as UI went 6-for-6 from the line to start Saturday's game. SIUE knocked down five three-pointers in the first quarter to keep things close.
The Illini took a one-point lead into the second quarter as the two teams continued to trade buckets. Junior Ali Andrews was a major contributor for the Orange and Blue in the second quarter, posting seven points on 3-of-4 shooting in the period. Illinois forced eight SIUE turnovers in the first half, scoring 10 points off those miscues. The Orange and Blue closed the second quarter on an 11-3 run to pull ahead to a 41-36 first-half lead.
The Illini defense was solid out of the halftime break, holding the Cougars without a field goal for almost two minutes to start the third quarter. UI allowed just three SIUE field goals on 17.6-percent shooting in the frame, using the quarter to pull ahead to a 44-59 advantage. Beasley contributed six-straight points in the third quarter for Illinois as the squad shot 57-percent from the field.
"The first three minutes of the third quarter were especially important," Fahey said. "We were struggling a little bit from the three and I felt like the defense started creating some offense for us. I felt like that punch in the third quarter was really significant for the rest of the game."
Illinois continued to stay tough on defense in the fourth quarter, holding SIUE to 25-percent shooting in the period. The Cougars shot 32-percent for the game, while Illinois knocked down 43-percent of its shots. Once again, 11 Illini players contributed to Illinois' 21 assists overall, as the squad assisted on 70-percent of its field goals made.
Freshman Mackenzie Blazek was perfect from the floor for the second consecutive game on Saturday evening as she followed up a 5-for-5 performance against Murray State with a 3-for-3 shooting performance on Saturday evening. Blazek also tallied three blocks on the night, as did graduate transfer Sarah Shewan. The rejections mark a career-best for both players. The Illini freshmen were strong on Saturday as J-Naya Ephraim tallied a career-best eight points, also contributing a career-best three assists. Arieal Scott added a career best three steals as well.
NEXT UP
The Orange and Blue are back in action on Friday, December 21, hosting Missouri at 12 p.m. The Illini lead the all-time series against the Tigers, 8-4, and will host Missouri in Champaign for the first time since 2008. University of Illinois faculty and staff will receive free admission to Friday's game and can receive concessions discounts with a staff ID.
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Keep up with the Fighting Illini Women's Basketball squad on social media for an even more inside look at the program. Follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
GAME NOTES
- Illinois defeats SIUE 74-57 Saturday night to move 8-2 on the season.
- Illinois' 8-2 record is the best start to the season for the Illini since 2015-16.
- UI's 7-0 is the best start at home since 2014-15 and the best at the State Farm Center since 2006-07.
- UI tied a season-high eight blocks in the contest, led by Sarah Shewan and Mackenzie Blazek, who both recorded three blocked shots.
- Senior Alex Wittinger led the Illini with 19 points and 8 rebounds, continuing to elevate in the record books.
- Currently sits ninth overall for career rebounding with 818 rebounds.
- Moves to No. 17 for career scoring with 1,335 points.
- Wittinger was perfect at the free throw line, going 3 for 3.
- Wittinger's perfect 2 for 2 three pointers brings her season percentage to 67%.
- Freshman Arieal Scott set a new career-best with three steals.
- Freshman Mackenzie Blazek and graduate student Sarah Shewan were both a perfect 3-for-3 from the field.
- Freshman J-Naya Ephraim recorded three assists, tying a career-best.
