IOWA CITY, Iowa – Fighting Illini women's basketball fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes, 88-66, on Thursday evening in a Big Ten road battle. Four Illini scored in double-figures, led by senior Alex Wittinger who tallied 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots. She was joined in double-digits by junior Brandi Beasley, redshirt junior Cierra Rice and freshman Arieal Scott who added 10 points each. The Illini move to 10-15 on the season and 2-11 in Big Ten play. UI returns to the State Farm Center on Sunday, hosting Michigan in the annual Play 4Kay Pink Game Presented by WCIA and Health Alliance. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
"I thought we did a good job tonight, we didn't stop," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "Iowa is a team that is hitting on all cylinders right now; their tempo and ability to pass the ball, the way they share it, that is tough to defend. I know we gave it all we had tonight."
Rice was hot for the Illini early on as she hit back-to-back shots to start the contest and give the Orange and Blue an early advantage. The home team responded to the Illini advantage, using an 8-0 run to cut into the Illini lead. Rice contributed eight first-quarter points, and the Illini scored five points off of four Iowa turnovers to start the game, but the Hawkeyes took a 20-12 advantage into the second quarter.
Illinois and Iowa traded buckets throughout the second quarter as the Orange and Blue fought to chip away at Iowa's lead. UI was strong from the charity stripe in the stanza, knocking down 8-of-9 shots from the line, led by Scott who posted seven second-quarter points and went 5-for-5 from the free throw line. The Illini shot 40-percent from the field in the second quarter, but the Hawkeyes stayed hot before halftime, using 71-percent shooting to hold on to their advantage. Eight Illini contributed to Illinois' first-half offense, led by Rice's eight points. Wittinger grabbed six first-half rebounds for the Illini, also adding six points and one blocked shot.
Junior Ali Andrews struck first out of the break, bringing Illinois within 10 of the Hawkeyes. Iowa capitalized from the charity stripe early in the half, however, knocking down 10-of-13 shots to stay ahead of the Orange and Blue. Scott pulled into double-figure scoring numbers in the third quarter, netting a three-pointer to kick off a 9-1 Illini run. UI continued to stay strong from the free throw line as well as both Beasley (4-for-4) and Scott (5-for-5) were perfect from the stripe heading into the final frame. Beasley was an important contributor for the Illini out of the break, adding six third-quarter points.
The Orange and Blue continued to battle through the fourth quarter as Rice and Wittinger joined Beasley and Scott in double-figure scoring numbers to start the final frame. Illinois worked to hold off the Hawkeyes before the final buzzer, but the home team secured its victory with a run early in the frame. Wittinger added seven points for UI to close the game, and she finished with 15 on the night. Sophomore Lyric Robins also contributed to Illinois' scoring in the fourth quarter, netting six points to match her career high with eight on the night.
Illinois shot 84-percent from the free throw line on Thursday, netting 16-of-19 shots overall. UI forced 10 Iowa turnovers and committed just seven on the night. Illinois capitalized with 11 points off of turnovers, and the Illini bench added 25 points.
NEXT UP
The Orange and Blue will return to Champaign on February 17 for the annual Play 4Kay Pink Game Presented by WCIA and Health Alliance. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. inside State Farm Center. Fans who wear pink to the game will receive $3 admission. The Kids Zone will feature a card-making station, benefitting Carle Hospital, and there will be a Chuck-a-Duck contest at halftime. Fans can donate $3 to the Mills Breast Cancer Institute to participate in the contest. Each participant will receive a pink rubber duck to throw at a target on the court at halftime. The closest duck to the target will win the grand prize.
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