Lori Bjork began her season a little shaky.

After playing her first two seasons under former head coach Theresa Grentz, Bjork did not appear to cope well with Grentz’s departure in April 2007. She had a tough time adjusting to first-year head coach Jolette Law’s new defense-heavy system.

But in time, the junior guard slipped back into her groove to help the Illini post a run to the Big Ten Championship game. Bjork resumed her role as the Illini’s premier three-point shooter, finishing the season with the most made three-point shots and became the program’s all-time career leader in three-point shooting.

But on Friday, the 5-foot-11 star announced she will not play for Illinois next season. Bjork, who started all 35 games this season, averaged 10.0 points per game and led the team in free-throw shooting with 87.5 percent.

Wednesday afternoon the team got hit with more bad news when freshman guard Chelsea Buher announced she will leave the team as well. Buher, who could have been a possible replacement for Bjork, finished the season with 1.5 points per game, averaging 7.2 minutes.

The Daily Illini attempted to reach Buher but was unable to get a hold of her.

“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to play basketball at Illinois and receive my degree in three years from this outstanding University,” Bjork said in a statement to the Daily Illini. “I have always done my best to represent this University in a first-class manner, and I think my actions both on the court and in the classroom reflect that. My passion for basketball and my willingness to work hard have never wavered, but I have decided to use my last year of basketball eligibility in graduate school at another institution. I have no idea where I will be next year, but I leave Illinois feeling extremely grateful for the fans and the many members of the community and Illinois support staff I have had the pleasure of working with. I also want to thank my teammates for their friendship and support.”

Bjork declined to answer any further questions.

According to Law, Bjork will graduate this May and go elsewhere to pursue her master’s degree. Bjork will receive her bachelor’s degree in political science.

“I was hurt,” Law said about Bjork’s decision. “She was a great, great contributor to this team. I just want to wish her well.”

But Bjork will have to sit out next year if she chooses to attend a Division I school because she won’t become eligible until the 2009-10 season.

Bjork’s and Buher’s departure, along with the graduation of seniors Rebecca Harris, Audrey Tabon and Stephanie Chelleen, and the midseason departure of senior forward Danyel Crutcher leaves the team with half the talent it had at the beginning of this season. Sophomore center Jenna Smith, who received All-American honorable mention (Associated Press), will have even more weight on her shoulders next year. Junior forward Chelsea Gordon and sophomore forward Lacey Simpson will join Smith as the squad’s only returning starters.

Law signed four student-athletes to national letters of intent on Wednesday to ensure she has the numbers for next season. Fabiola Josil, Eboni Mitchell, TeAndrea Smith and Whitney Toone will join other newcomers Macie Blinn and Lana Rukavina, who signed letters of intent in November. Junior Erin McCarthy, a reserve this season, will also return.

Neither Bjork nor Buher were anywhere to be found at Wednesday night’s Ultimate Basketball Challenge.

“We got to move on,” is all Law could think to say following the Challenge.