INDIANAPOLIS – Fighting Illini Junior Alex Wittinger and sophomore Brandi Beasley combined for 42 points on Wednesday in the first round of the 2018 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament, but the Illini fell to the No. 11-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions, 83-57. Beasley's 21-point performance matched her season-best tally, and she also posted five assists and a career-high two blocked shots. Wittinger closed the day with 21 points as well, grabbing 11 rebounds and three blocks. With three offensive rebounds today, Wittinger moved into the top spot on Illinois' single-season offensive rebounding list with 125 this year, she is tied with Karisma Penn (2012-13). The Illini move to 9-22 for the 2017-18 campaign.
"They (Beasley and Wittinger) came out and played hard, and they put a lot of points on the board," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "So that was a good sign. We let someone take off on us on the other side."
The Illini and the Lady Lions traded buckets to start the game, but Beasley combined with redshirt sophomore Cierra Rice for five-consecutive points to put the Illini on top. UI continued to push, as Wittinger added six-straight points to build on Illinois' lead. The Illini closed the first quarter on an 8-2 run, giving the Orange and Blue an 18-15 lead after one period. Illinois shot 43.8-percent to open the game, led by Wittinger's 60-percent shooting.
Wittinger continued to score for UI, combining with redshirt senior Kennedy Cattenhead to extend the Illini lead to seven in the second frame. Penn State pushed back before halftime, using a 15-0 run to move ahead of the Illini. The Lady Lions held Illinois without a field goal for more than seven minutes before the half, but sophomore Petra Holešínská knocked down a three-pointer before the break to stop Penn State's run.
Wittinger led Illinois with 12 points at the half, also adding six rebounds and a blocked shot. Beasley contributed eight points for UI, dishing three first-half assists. The Lady Lions led Illinois 33-27 heading into the third quarter.
The Illini came out of the second half swinging as Beasley and Holešínská netted buckets for the Illini right off the bat. Penn State was also rejuvenated, however, and continued to build on its lead before the final frame. Illinois shot 41.7-percent out of the halftime break, facing 52.5-percent shooting from the Nittany Lions. Wittinger posted seven points in the quarter, and Beasley had racked up a career-best two blocked shots before the fourth quarter.
The Illini continued to fight through the final frame, but Penn State pushed back to earn the victory and advance to the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. Beasley posted nine points for Illinois in the fourth quarter, matching her season-best with 21 points on the day. She combined with Wittinger for 42 points on Wednesday, marking the first time this season Illinois' has had two players record 20 or more points in the same game.
"We are talking about a team that has worked so hard over the past five months," Fahey said of the Fighting Illini. "But I think it is something that they are going to be motivated by. Teams are built by their character, their work ethic and their grit, and that's what we started."
Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois women's basketball.
Team Notes
- Illinois had two 20-plus-point performers (Beasley: 21, Wittinger: 21) in the same game for the first time this season.
Individual Notes
- Junior Alex Wittinger recorded her 13th double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
- The 20-plus-point performance is the 7th of the season and 15th of her career.
- Wittinger now holds the record for most offensive rebounds in a single season with 125 in 2017-18.
- Wittinger replaced herself at the No. 2 position on Illinois's single season blocked shots list at 75 blocked shots.
- With today's double-double, Wittinger sits at the No. 6 position on the career double-doubles list with 26.
- Sophomore Brandi Beasley matched her season-high point total with 21, good for second 20-point performance of the season and eighth of her career.
- Beasley made a season-best three three-point field goals.
- Beasley had a career-high two blocks.
