WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana – Fighting Illini junior Ali Andrews recorded her first career double-double on Thursday evening against the Purdue Boilermakers. Andrews netted 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Orange and Blue, but the Illini fell to Purdue, 72-50. Redshirt junior Cierra Rice also scored in double-figures with 11 points on the night. UI moves to 9-14 on the season and 1-11 in Big Ten play. Illinois returns to Champaign to host Wisconsin on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Illinois and Purdue were both strong to start on Thursday evening, trading buckets and the lead throughout the first frame. The Orange and Blue used an 8-0 run in the middle of the period to pull out to a four-point lead early in the contest. Purdue battled to catch Illinois as the two teams continued to trade the advantage. Freshman Arieal Scott knocked down a three-pointer with just eight seconds left in the period to give UI a one-point lead heading into the second quarter.
"We came on strong and did a good job of executing our game plan, but this is a four-quarter game," head coach Nancy Fahey said. "The intensity that they {Purdue} were playing at was at a different level, they went at us pretty hard defensively.
Purdue picked up the pace on defense in the second quarter, going on a 15-0 run to start the period. The Boilermakers held the Illini to just five second-quarter points to make it 37-26 in their favor at halftime. Andrews led Illinois with seven first-half points on Thursday, also grabbing five rebounds and adding a steal. Redshirt junior Cierra Rice also added six points for the Illini, and seven players contributed to Illinois' scoring in the first half. UI scored nine first-half points off of nine Purdue turnovers and assisted on 80-percent of its field goals to start the game.
Illinois battled out of the halftime break, posting five straight points to start the third quarter and close the gap. The home team remained strong defensively, however, holding the orange and Blue to just 10 third-quarter points. Andrews continued to lead the Illini in the third quarter as she netted a jumper at the end of the frame to help the Orange and Blue gain momentum. Scott added another three-pointer for Illinois, while UI held the Boilermakers without a trey in the frame. Rice and Andrews led Illinois with nine points each, but Purdue took a 53-36 advantage into the final period.
Andrews continued her scoring ways for the Illini in the fourth quarter, moving into double-figures for the night. The Illini fought through the fourth quarter, using an 8-2 run to push back against Purdue. Despite the final push, UI could not overcome the home team. Illinois swiped nine steals and forced 15 Purdue turnovers and scored 13 points off of those miscues. The Illini also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds on Thursday evening.
NEXT UP
UI welcomes Wisconsin to the State Farm Center on February 10. The game will honor National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Several Fighting Illini women's teams will be on the concourse prior to tipoff to sign autographs and host interactive stations. Tickets will be available for $3, and several Fighting Illini women's teams will be signing autographs on the concourse before the game.
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Keep up with the Fighting Illini Women's Basketball squad on social media for an even more inside look at the program. Follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
