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CAIRNS, Australia – Fighting Illini women's basketball closed play in Australia on Tuesday evening against the Cairns Dolphins. Freshman Jeanae Terry led Illinois with a 20-point effort in the contest, scoring 15 of those points in the fourth quarter. She was joined in double-figures by Courtney Joens (13) and Ali Andrews (10), but the Illini couldn't hold off the Dolphins, falling 78-70.
The contest got off to a fast start on Tuesday evening as both teams traded buckets to start the game. The Dolphins were hot out of the gates, shooting 56-percent in the first frame. Joens and Andrews led the Orange and Blue with five points each to open play, while rising senior Brandi Beasley added three assists off the bat.
Illinois worked to slow things down in the second frame, forcing seven Dolphin turnovers in the period and scoring six points off of those miscues. The Illini also added five steals in the second quarter. UI trailed, 41-31 heading into the halftime break, but the Illini continued to fight to the final buzzer.
Joens combined with rising sophomore Mackenzie Blazek for 10 points out of the halftime break. Andrews led UI on the glass with six boards through three frames.
The Orange and Blue continued to chip away at the Dolphin lead throughout the final frame. Terry got hot to close the game, knocking down 15 of Illinois' 24 points in the fourth quarter. She also added six rebounds and five steals in the contest. Beasley finished with a game-high seven assists for the Illini, while Andrews and Joens added eight boards each to lead the team as well.
NEXT UP
With play in Australia concluded, the Orange and Blue will travel to Sydney to sightsee for the next few days before returning to Champaign on August 17.
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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 and the team's trip to Australia. Follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
