EAST LANSING, Michigan – Fighting Illini junior Brandi Beasley netted her 1,000th career point on Thursday evening at the Breslin Center as Illinois took on the Michigan State Spartans. She became the 30th Illini to join the 1,000 point club in Illinois history, finishing with a game-high 15 points on the night. Redshirt junior and Michigan native, Cierra Rice, joined Beasley among Illini scoring leaders, recording 10 points and adding four assists. Despite battling throughout the contest, the Illini couldn't overcome the Spartans, however, falling, 60-77, in East Lansing. Illinois moves to 9-10 on the season and 1-7 in Big Ten play. The Orange and Blue will return to Champaign to host Northwestern on Sunday at 2 p.m.
"That's an accumulation of a lot of work over three years," Fahey said of Beasley's milestone. "She did a great job of pulling up jumpers tonight and attacking the basket. As much as it hurt, that's something to celebrate for her and we certainly are excited for her."
The Spartans were hot to start out on Thursday evening, knocking down consecutive three-pointers to take an early lead in the contest. The Illini pushed back to open play as four different players netted buckets in the opening frame. Illinois scored five points off of Michigan State turnovers in the first quarter, but the Spartans shot 53-percent from the field and knocked down five three-pointers in the period.
"They {Michigan State} they got some early threes and it got us in a hole," Fahey said. "But we fought back and we got it within five later in the third quarter, but then it would slip away again. The boards really hurt us tonight, they really outrebounded us. They {Michigan State} are a big team and we really had to lock down. That was a big part of our game."
Freshman Arieal Scott netted a three-pointer to start the second quarter and help swing the momentum for Illinois. UI pressured the Spartans, outscoring the home team, 21-17 in the second quarter to cut into Michigan State's lead. The Spartans led by nine at the half, but the Illini closed the second quarter on a 5-0 run. Freshman Mackenzie Blazek contributed all five of those points, netting back-to-back layups and adding a free throw. Rice led Illinois at the half as she tallied nine-points before the break on 3-of-4 shooting from the field.
The Spartans worked to extend their advantage out of the halftime break, but Beasley pushed back. She scored five-straight points for the Orange and Blue, to cut Illinois' deficit to just five, also netting her milestone bucket in that span. Michigan State responded with a 5-0 run of their own in the frame, however, and the two teams continued to battle. Illinois and MSU traded buckets to close the third quarter, but the Illini stayed tough on defense. Illinois did not commit a turnover in the period, but continued to capitalize on Michigan State miscues. The Illini racked up 12 points off of Michigan State turnovers through the first three quarters.
Beasley continued to score in the final frame, starting the period with a three-pointer for Illinois. The Spartans fought to take their lead back, however, going on a run to pull away. The Illini continued to pressure the Spartans in the fourth quarter, but Michigan State held on to the lead until the final buzzer.
Illinois finished with 17 points off of Spartan turnovers, and gave up just two points off of miscues on the night. Senior Alex Wittinger led Illinois on the glass as she grabbed nine rebounds overall. The Illini bench contributed 26 points on the night, and UI assisted on 75-percent of its field goals.
NEXT UP
UI returns to the State Farm Center on January 27, hosting Northwestern for Pride Night. The game will celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters. Fans will have the opportunity to sign Illinois' Diversity and Inclusion banner at the West entrance of State Farm Center and fans can receive a Diversity and Inclusion trucker hat. The Illini will then hit the road once more to take on the Buckeyes of Ohio State January 31.
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