WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Fighting Illini women's basketball fell to the Purdue Boilermakers, 64-51, on Wednesday night. Junior Alex Wittinger earned her third-straight double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, also adding two steals. Redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice was also among team leaders as she posted 12 points and two assists. The Illini move to 9-20 on the season and 0-15 in Big Ten play.
"Where we are and what we have been trying to do this year is not give up," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "We are starting to show some fight and that is what we are trying to do."
Illini sophomore Petra Holešínská got the Orange and Blue off to an early lead on Wednesday evening, knocking down a three-pointer to start the game. The Illini and the Boilermakers traded the advantage throughout the first frame as juniors Wittinger and Jaelyne Kirkpatrick and sophomore Brandi Beasley also added buckets for Illinois. Purdue took a one-point lead into the second quarter, despite a strong defensive performance from Wittinger who racked up six rebounds in the opening frame.
Purdue gained momentum in the second quarter, opening the frame on a 9-2 run to extend its lead in the contest. The Illini continued to fight back throughout the period, as Wittinger added five more points for the Orange and Blue. Illinois forced seven Boilermaker turnovers in the first half of play, and held Purdue to just 28.6-percent shooting from distance. Wittinger had tallied nine boards before the third quarter, also leading Illinois with seven points.
Beasley got things going for UI to start the second half, combining with Rice and Wittinger for a 6-2 run. Rice added eight points for Illinois in the third quarter, earning her fourth double-digit scoring game this season. The Illini pulled within five points of Purdue twice in the third frame, but trailed, 47-38, heading into the final period. Illinois shot 50-percent from the floor in the third quarter and held Purdue without a three-pointer to outscore the Boilermakers 17-15.
The Orange and Blue used three treys to close in on the Boilermakers during the fourth quarter, but Purdue knocked down 10-of-12 free throws in the final frame to hold on to the victory.
Illinois shot 44.4-percent from three-point range on Wednesday, holding the Boilermakers to just 17.6-percent shooting from distance. Purdue shot 37.7-percent from the field, and scored eight points off of Illinois turnovers. The Illini forced 12 Boilermaker miscues and scored 20 points in the paint.
Coming up, the Illini will host Minnesota on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The game will mark senior day, and Illinois will honor seniors Kennedy Cattenhead and Alli Ball prior to the matchup, and the first 750 fans to arrive at the State Farm Center will receive a free mini basketball.
Individual Notes
- Junior F Alex Wittinger recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Wittinger's 25 career double-doubles puts her in sole possession of seventh place on Illinois's career double-doubles list.
- Redshirt sophomore G Cierra Rice had 12 points, good for fourth games in double figures this season and 14thgame of her career.
