Sunday was an afternoon of both remembrance and renewal for the lady Illini as they defeated visiting Big Ten leader Indiana, 61-52. Illinois’ first conference win came a day after the passing of Kay Yow. The former N.C. State coach was considered one of the greatest ever in women’s basketball, accumulating more than 700 career wins.Sunday was an afternoon of both remembrance and renewal for the lady Illini as they defeated visiting Big Ten leader Indiana, 61-52.

Illinois’ first conference win came a day after the passing of Kay Yow.

The former N.C. State coach was considered one of the greatest ever in women’s basketball, accumulating more than 700 career wins.

The team donned pink shooting shirts and shoe laces to remember the mentor and longtime friend of Illini head coach Jolette Law.

“I was hurt because Coach Yow means so much to me,” Law said.

“She was always there talking to me when things got tough. She never let her illness stop her from helping and motivating kids. She always had a smile on her face, even knowing there were times when she had treatment two days (before).”

Law considered playing basketball at N.C. State for Yow before eventually deciding on the University of Iowa.

But Law said Yow never stopped being her mentor even after she arrived in Champaign.

When Law heard Yow lost her 22-year fight with breast cancer, she was very emotional.

“Yesterday when I heard the news and I saw it on the ticker, I cried,” Law said. “It was a sad day but I know her spirit lives on. She will always be a winner in my book.”

Illinois finds its mojo

After starting 0-9 in Big Ten play and enduring a 10-game losing streak, Law and her players felt they were due for a victory.

“We already got the losing part of our record done,” Law said. “So let’s start getting some more wins.

“If we win the next nine games, the season won’t look as bad and we will see that we have grown.”

Before the game, Law left a message for her women on the white board, asking if they wanted to go down in school history.

A loss to the Hoosiers would have tied the longest losing streak in school history, which stands at 11 games.

Junior Lacey Simpson said that message gave the Illini a strong wake-up call.

“I guess her writing it down and us being that close to making history that way was a reality check,” Simpson said.

“Today that losing had to stop and everyone bought into it.”

Family Matters

As if junior Jenna Smith needed any further motivation Sunday, she got it in the form of her personal cheering section – her parents.

Both parents made the trip from their home in Bloomington, Minn., and sat courtside during the game to root on their standout center.

After the game, Smith received plenty of hugs and kisses.

“It felt great to have them there,” Smith said.

“They were just saying how proud they were of everyone.

“They were really excited. My mom was jumping up and down like a cheerleader.”

Smith finished with a game-high 24 points and 15 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.

Down goes Gordon

Near the end of the first half, senior Chelsea Gordon was fouled hard while driving to the basket and was slow getting up off the floor.

After limping to the free-throw line and making both attempts, she went directly to the locker room. She sat out the second half with her right knee wrapped in ice.

Gordon went in for an MRI on Monday as a precaution, Law said.