COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Illinois women's basketball team went wire-to-wire in a 58-51 win to claim Braggin' Rights in Mizzou Arena on Friday (December 20). After the Tigers (3-10) closed within four points at 47-43 to start the fourth quarter, the Illini (9-2) answerer back with an 8-3 run as a Brandi Beasley three-pointer was bookended by a pair of Ali Andrews baskets.
Redshirt-junior Petra Holešínská paced all players with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting and four three-pointers, including two during a 9-0 run to end the third quarter and send the Illini into the final period with a 47-38 edge.
"It was important, this game," said head coach Nancy Fahey. "We've played some teams, but playing Mizzou, it's the Braggin' Rights game at their place. We know they're explosive and I think that confidence [that we have] is going to be key going into Northwestern and the Big Ten."
Freshman forward Kennedi Myles registered her fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Andrews joined her with 10 points, including a pair of threes.
Beasley reached a career milestone of 400 assists after handing out a pair of helpers on the day.
Next up for the Illini is the Big Ten Conference opener against Northwestern on Saturday, December 28 in State Farm Center at 2 p.m. CT.
Team Notes
- Illinois finished the nonconference schedule with a 9-2 record and improve to 9-5 all-time against Missouri.
- Illinois earns its first win over the Tigers since a 65-55 victory on November 29, 2008.
- The Illini have won three-straight games with the starting line-up of Brandi Beasley, Petra Holešínská, Jada Peebles, Ali Andrews and Kennedi Myles.
Illinois forced 21 Tiger turnovers, marking the second-straight game the Illini have forced 20 or more turnovers.
- Illinois set a new season-high with 16 steals against the Tigers
- Illinois has out-rebounded opponents 137-102 over its last two games
Individual Notes
- Redshirt-junior Petra Holešínská registered her second-straight 20-point game and third of the season with a game-high 22 points on the day, including four three-pointers, moving her career total to 126.
- Freshman Kennedi Myles posted her fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
- Both Holešínská (career-high) and Myles notched five steals in the game.
- With her second assist in the first half, senior Brandi Beasley tallied her 400th career assist.
- Senior Ali Andrews reached double digit points for her sixth game of the season with 10 points, including a pair of three-pointers, which moves her career total to 128.
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