Illinois women’s basketball coach Matt Bollant has been here before.
A smaller state school makes the short trip to the home arena of the state’s largest university and comes away with a victory. Bollant, however, has always been on the side of the small school. At Green Bay, Bollant’s Lady Phoenix travelled to Madison, Wisc., to face Wisconsin at the Kohl Center three times in his five years with the program, twice coming away with a victory.
Bollant got a taste of the other side Friday night when Illinois State came to Assembly Hall and defeated the Illini 69-68.
Illinois (6-5) led by eight points with just over seven minutes left, but the Illini failed to close out the victory. Illinois State took the lead with 58 seconds left in the game, and Alexis Smith’s shot rimmed out at the buzzer.
Forward Karisma Penn led the Illini with 22 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks, but she also committed six turnovers and missed two free throws in the last minute that would have tied the game.
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“I feel like I let my teammates down,” Penn said.
Illinois State led at halftime 34-29 after holding Illinois scoreless in the last 2:50 of the first half.
After junior Amber Moore scored 13 points to keep the Illini competitive in the first half, she disappeared in the second, shooting only one shot, a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left in regulation. Bollant said that Moore’s decreased offensive output may have been caused by fatigue, as she played all 40 minutes of the game.
Taylor Tuck provided offense off the bench for the Illini with 11 points. Illinois State’s bench provided the Redbirds with 41 points.
Freshman McKenzie Piper did not play for the first time this season. Piper had been battling the flu, and Bollant said she lost much of her strength from the illness.
Illinois and Illinois State have faced off 36 times, with the Illini leading the series 21-15. Illinois won last season in Normal, but the Redbirds took down the Illini two seasons ago in Champaign.
Illinois State has played four Big Ten teams this season, going 2-2. The Redbirds lost to Iowa and Michigan, but defeated Illinois and Northwestern.
Illinois’ players will have a break to go home and will return to Champaign on Wednesday. The Illini will host the undefeated No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs on Dec. 28.
Johnathan can be reached at [email protected] and @jhett93.
