PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Senior Courtney Joens turned in a season-high 15 points as the Illinois women's basketball team fell to Rutgers, 72-41, on Thursday (Jan. 30) night in The RAC.
Joens went 4-of-5 from the field with a 2-for-3 mark from the three-point line and a 5-for-7 effort from the charity stripe.
Freshman Jeanae Terry continued her strong play and equaled a career-high with eight rebounds to go along with four assists and two steals, while senior Brandi Beasley added six points and five steals.
The Illini (10-10, 1-8) scored the game's first five points before the Scarlet Knights (16-4, 6-3) answered back with a run of their own to take a 12-5 advantage. Eight-straight points from the visitors pushed the Illini ahead at 13-12 and from there it was back-and-forth until RU broke a 19-19 tie with six-straight scores to close the opening quarter with a 25-19 lead.
From there, the Knights used a 17-9 second quarter to build a 44-26 edge at halftime, before going on for the 72-41 win.
Illinois returns home to host Wisconsin on Sunday (Feb. 2) at 2 p.m. CT in State Farm Center. Sunday's game will be the annual Pack the House and Play 4 Kay Pink Game.
Team Notes
- Illinois moves to 10-10 on the season and 1-8 in Big Ten play.
- Freshman Jeanae Terry earned her first career start against Rutgers as the Illini started with Terry, senior Brandi Beasley, redshirt-junior Petra Holesínksá, sophomore Mackenzie Blazek and freshman Kennedi Myles for the first time this season.
- The Illinois bench outscored the Rutgers bench, 31-20.
- Illinois had 15 fast break points, compared to Rutgers' 12.
Individual Notes
- For the first time this season senior Courtney Joens led the Illini in scoring with a season-high 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, a 2-for-3 mark beyond the arc and a 5-of-7 effort from the free throw line.
- It was Joens' second game of the season in double figures and 15th of her career.
- Freshman Jeanae Terry tied a career-high with eight rebounds, while also leading the Illini with four assists and adding two steals in 31 minutes.
- Senior Brandi Beasley tied a career-high with five steals to go along with six points and a block.
For more Fighting Illini women's basketball news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniWBB on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
