CHAMPAIGN – Fighting Illini Women's Basketball topped the Indiana State Sycamores, 75-57, on Wednesday night at the State Farm Center. Seniors Alex Wittinger and Sarah Shewan led the Orange and Blue with 18 and 17 points each, respectively. Wittinger also tallied eight boards and five blocks on the night, while Shewan was 4-for-4 from the free throw line. She has been perfect from the line in two consecutive games. The Orange and Blue improve to 6-2 on the season, and will continue their home stretch on December 11 against Murray State.
"What a game, I have a lot of respect for Indiana State," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "They were running some good action. We had to make some adjustments to find ourselves defensively. I think we finally got settled in to our defensive philosophy and that really helped us down the stretch."
The Illini struck first on Wednesday night, with back-to-back buckets from Wittinger and redshirt junior Cierra Rice, but Indiana State was hot to start as well. The Sycamores tied the game in the third minute, and pulled ahead to a five-point lead in the opening frame. The Illini fought to regain control of the scoring, however, and used three treys to cut into the Sycamore lead and take over the advantage in the contest. Shewan netted one of those three-pointers in the last minute of the period to give the Illini a one point lead heading into the second quarter.
The two teams traded the lead to start the second frame, but a 12-2 Illini run to end the quarter put the Orange and Blue on top before the halftime break. Shewan contributed six of those points, also going 4-of-4 from the free throw line in that span. Illinois led Indiana State, 41-32, at halftime, and the Illini shot 59-percent to start the game. Illinois' performance was highlighted by 67-percent shooting in the second quarter.
Seven Illini contributed to Illinois' first-half lead, with junior Brandi Beasley and Shewan recording nine points each. The Orange and Blue forced eight Sycamore turnovers in the first half, scoring 14 points off those miscues.
The Orange and Blue continued to hold their advantage in the second half, as Shewan and Wittinger combined for 12 of Illinois' 13 points in the period. The Illini defense held Indiana State to just 28-percent shooting in the third frame, giving UI a seven-point lead before the fourth quarter.
Illinois defense stayed tough throughout the final frame, holding the Sycamores to just three field goals on 23-percent shooting. Illinois outscored Indiana State 21-10 in the final frame, and closed the game on a 9-3 run.
Wittinger and Shewan were joined in double-figure scoring numbers by Brandi Beasley (14) and Cierra Rice (10). Beasley added five assists on the night, marking her 23rd career game dishing five or more dimes. Illinois scored 40 of its points in the paint, and also added 20 points off of Indiana State turnovers.
NEXT UP
Illinois will take a weekend off before hosting Murray State on Tuesday, December 11. The two teams will meet for the second time in program history and the first time since Dec. 22, 2014. The Illini own a 1-0 record over the Racers, earning a 64-44 victory in the last matchup.
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GAME NOTES
- Illinois defeated Indiana State 75-57 on Wednesday night, closing in on the Sycamores 4-6 in the series record. The Illini are now 2-2 when competing against Indiana State at home.
- The Illini scored 40 points in the paint and scored a game high 21 points in the second and third period.
- Illinois outrebounded Indiana State, marking the seventh opponent that the Orange and Blue have outrebounded this season.
- Senior Alex Wittinger led the team in scoring with 18 points, elevating her career total to 1,294. This moves her up to No. 18 on the 1,000-point club list.
- Defensively, Wittinger led the squad with eight rebounds.
- Sarah Shewan finished another game with double-digits, posting a season-best 17 points.
- Shewan and redshirt junior Cierra Rice were perfect at the free throw line. Shewan converted four attempts, while Rice shot two.
- Junior Courtney Joens tied a career-best three assists.
