CHAMPAIGN – Senior Alex Wittinger and junior Brandi Beasley combined for 40 of Illinois' points on Sunday afternoon, helping to lift the Illini over the Wisconsin Badgers, 78-68. Wittinger earned her seventh double-double of the season as she registered 12 rebounds and also added three rejections. Beasley finished with nine assists on the day. In all, eight Illini contributed to Illinois' scoring, with junior Ali Andrews and freshman Arieal Scott also posting double-figures. With Sunday's victory, the Orange and Blue improve to 10-14 on the season and 2-11 in Big Ten play.
"I'm really happy for the team," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "We know that we're getting better every day in practice, and we know we're competitive in games, but we want to win. I was really proud of how we played for 40 minutes today."
Illinois got off to a hot start on a snowy Sunday in Champaign, taking a lead over the visiting Badgers to start the game. Illinois and Wisconsin traded buckets throughout the opening period as the Illini worked to maintain their advantage. Wisconsin used a 7-0 run in the period to cut into Illinois' lead and pull ahead, but the Illini continued to fight. Beasley drew a foul on a three-pointer at the buzzer and completed the four-point play to give the Orange and Blue a two lead game heading into the second quarter. Wittinger, Andrews and Beasley led Illinois with six points in the first quarter.
The battle continued in the second quarter as the Illini and the Badgers traded the lead throughout the period. Wisconsin started the frame on a 12-4 run to pull ahead, but the Illini quickly responded with a run of their own. Illinois held Wisconsin without a field goal for more than 3 minutes in the stanza, while going on a 12-2 run of its own to regain the advantage.
UI took a 42-40 lead over the Badgers into the locker room at halftime, and both teams shot 44.1-percent in the first half of play. The Illini knocked down six three-pointers before the halftime break, while holding Wisconsin to just 25-percent shooting from three-point range. The Illini also capitalized with six points off of Wisconsin turnovers in the first half, without giving up any to the Badgers. The Orange and Blue were balanced to open the game as eight different players contributed to Illinois' lead.
Out of the break, the Badgers fought to take back the lead, but the Illini stayed strong. The two teams traded the lead early in the half, but Illinois sealed the deal with a 7-2 run in the middle of the frame. UI worked to build its lead through the third quarter, and took a 67-59 advantage into the fourth frame. Wittinger was a major contributor for Illinois in the period as she knocked down 7-of-7 from the field and added 16 points to her tally.
The Illini played strong defense to close out the game, holding Wisconsin to just nine fourth-quarter points on 33-percent shooting. Beasley posted six points in the final frame to lead Illinois, and Ali Andrews netted 3-of-4 from the charity stripe down the stretch.
The Illini shot 86-percent from the free throw line on Sunday afternoon, and outrebounded the Badgers, 41-38. Illinois forced 10 Badger turnovers and scored 12 points off of those miscues. The Illini bench added 22 points for the Orange and Blue, led by Scott who finished with 10 points overall.
NEXT UP
Illinois will travel to Iowa on Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest in Iowa City. The Orange and Blue will return to Champaign on February 17 for the annual Play 4Kay Pink Game Presented by WCIA and Health Alliance. Fans who wear pink to the State Farm Center on February 17 will receive $3 admission.
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