CHAMPAIGN – Fighting Illini women's basketball hosted the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday afternoon for the annual Play4Kay Pink Game Presented by WCIA and Health Alliance. The Orange and Blue battled on their home court as Alex Wittinger posted a game-high 18 points and was joined in double-figures by junior Courtney Joens and freshman Mackenzie Blazek who finished with 10 points each. Blazek matched her career-high with that number, while Wittinger also registered 10 rebounds to net her eighth double-double of the season. Despite a hard-fought contest, the Illini fell to Michigan, 70-56. Illinois moves to 10-16 on the season and 2-13 in Big Ten play.
Illinois pulled out to an early, 6-0, lead on Sunday afternoon at the State Farm Center as Joens and Wittinger each knocked down a three-pointer to start the contest. Joens and Wittinger stayed tough early on, working to keep UI's lead through the opening seven minutes. The two combined for Illinois' 11 first-quarter points, and Wittinger added three blocks to her tally as well. The Wolverines picked up steam heading into the second frame, however, using an 8-0 run to tie the game and take a four-point lead into the next period.
Michigan continued to pressure the Illini to start the second quarter, knocking down six-straight points to start the period and extend their advantage. Junior Ali Andrews put a stop to the Michigan run as she netted her first points of the game to help Illinois pick up momentum in the second quarter. The Illini closed the half on a 6-0 run, cutting the Wolverine lead to just five heading into the break. Wittinger led Illinois with 10 first-half points, also adding three rebounds and three blocked shots. Both Illinois and Michigan shot 40-percent in the first half, and both teams grabbed 16 first-half rebounds.
Illinois came out of the locker room hot after the break, continuing their run into the second quarter. The Illini knocked down six-straight points in the first 2:34 of the second half to pull ahead of the visiting Wolverines, 30-29. In total, Illinois went on a 12-0 run, holding Michigan scoreless for 5:19 in the middle of the matchup. Both teams battled through the third frame, working to capitalize off of free throws. The Illini knocked down 8-of-8 shots from the charity stripe, but Michigan added seven free throws of their own before the fourth quarter. Wittinger continued to lead all scorers as she racked up 16 points before the final frame. Blazek also added four points in the period to sit among Illini leaders with eight points to end the third quarter.
The two teams continued to fight into the fourth quarter, trading buckets to start the period. The Illini cut Michigan's lead to single digits with a Wittinger jumper, but Wolverine run put the visitors back ahead. Seven different Illini recorded a point in the fourth quarter to end the game, including Joens who joined Blazek and Wittinger in double figures on the day. The Illini added two free throws in the fourth quarter, to finish a perfect 10-for-10 on the day.
NEXT UP
The Illini are set to travel to Wisconsin for another matchup against the Badgers on February 20. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Madison. UI returns to State Farm Center on February 24 to host Penn State for Senior Day.
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TEAM NOTES
- Sunday marked Illinois' annual Play4Kay Pink Game presented by WCIA and Health Alliance
- Illinois shot 100-percent (10-10) from the free throw line, the third time this season the Illini were perfect from the charity stripe. Illinois were previously perfect from the line against Missouri (3-3) on December 21 and Iowa (5-5) on January 20.
- Illinois went on a 12-0 run that spanned 5:19 between the 2:43 mark in the second quarter and the 7:24 mark in the third quarter
- Illinois outrebounded Michigan, 30-28, including 13 offensive boards
- Illinois held two of Michigan's top three leading scorers below their season averages, holding Nicole Munger (10.2 PPG) to two points and Naz Hillmon (12.8 PPG) to nine points
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Senior forward Alex Wittinger recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
- Wittinger's 18 points marked her 20th double figure scoring performance of the season
- Hitting two three-pointers, Alex Wittinger tied her career high set earlier this season on December 15, 2018 vs. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
- Junior guard Courtney Joens recorded her fifth double-digit scoring performance of the season with 10 points
- Freshman Mackenzie Blazek scored 10 points, tying her season high from December 11 vs. Murray State.
