CHAMPAIGN – Fighting Illini Women's Basketball fell to the Missouri Tigers on Friday afternoon, 67-45. Despite a close first half, the Orange and Blue could not overcome a strong third quarter from the Tigers. Senior Alex Wittinger led the Illini with 15 points, making seven of her 10 attempts from the field. Junior Brandi Beasley and redshirt junior Cierra Rice each added nine points. UI moves to 8-3 on the season, and will open Big Ten play against Indiana on December 28.
The two teams battled through the first half of play, trading buckets to keep the game tight. Wittinger led Illinois in the opening frame, knocking down 3-of-3 from the floor and leading all scorers with six points. Beasley, Rice and junior Courtney Joens also contributed to Illinois' scoring in the first quarter. The Tigers took a three-point advantage into the second period.
Illinois cut into the Missouri lead right away to start the second quarter as Jaleyne Kirkpatrick netted a layup to start the frame. The Orange and Blue used a 7-0 run to tie the game and pull into the lead before the halftime break. The two teams continued to trade buckets to end the half, but Missouri took a one-point advantage into the break with a last-second layup. The Illini shot 50-percent in the second quarter, with Wittinger closing the half leading all scorers with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Rice tallied five points before the halftime break to help lead Illinois as well. UI held Missouri to 38-percent shooting in the first half, also holding the Tigers' leading scorer, Sophie Cunningham, scoreless before the break.
"We were locked in the first half," said head coach Nancy Fahey. "I thought we had a personality defensively; we got stops. Missouri tried to slow the pace down, in the first half the pace was ours. We could get up and down because we got stops. In the second half, we came out running a baseline two-three zone, we didn't get there and they knocked down a three. It just started rolling from there."
Missouri came out of halftime strong, using a 17-0 run in the third quarter to extend their lead in the contest. The Tigers held Illinois to just 18-percent shooting in the quarter while knocking down five three-pointers of their own. Missouri took a 51-31 lead into the final quarter.
The Orange and Blue pushed back in the fourth quarter, shooting 60-percent from the floor. Freshman Mackenzie Blazek contributed six of Illinois' points in the final period, also grabbing three boards. Beasley also added four points for Illinois in the final frame as well.
UI shot 42.6-percent from the floor on Friday, led by Wittinger's 70-percent shooting. She led the Orange and Blue in scoring, also adding three rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Beasley added three assists and two rebounds to her tally as well, while Blazek led UI with four rebounds.
NEXT UP
UI will be back in action on December 28 to open Big Ten play against the Indiana Hoosiers. The Orange and Blue will toast to the start of Big Ten season, giving away champagne flutes and bubbles to the first 200 fans. The Kids Zone will feature face painting and balloon art, and all season ticket holders are invited to bring two guests to the game for free with the vouchers provided with your season tickets.
FOLLOW THE ILLINI
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.
