When trying to put a finger on how the Illini women’s basketball team could lose to a Northwestern team it beat by 18 points 10 days earlier, there are many possible answers. Illini head coach Matt Bollant said the team’s lack of energy led to the poor performance.

“We lacked discipline in the first half, but if you’re not excited to play, you don’t have passion, you don’t shoot the ball very well,” Bollant said. “Not coming ready to play, not being excited to play, we had great fan support and let them down. When you’re not on edge, you don’t shoot the ball well, and we weren’t on edge to start the game.”

Telling stats

0-4 — After the 62-58 loss to Northwestern, Illinois is 0-4 on the season in games decided by four points or less. Bollant was less concerned with that number than another alarming stat: Senior guard Adrienne GodBold has fouled out in six out of seven of the games she’s played. Senior forward Karisma Penn and sophomore guard Alexis Smith also fouled out against Northwestern.

“We had three of our best players on the bench — that doesn’t help you,” Bollant said. “We’re trying to call sets and get the right kids the right shots, but it’s a little bit hard when the right kids are on the bench.” 

0-3, 3-0 — Through six games Big Ten games, the Illini are 0-3 at home and 3-0 on the road.

“Before I would’ve said, ‘no,’” Bollant said when asked if there’s any reason why the trend is continuing. “I think we played great against Purdue, and Michigan State’s a really good team. (Sunday), I was just shocked they wouldn’t come more excited and more ready to play at home. I don’t know how you could beat a Georgia team and come out and play the way you did against them and then not be excited and ready to go against Northwestern.” 

6-0 — Illinois is 6-0 when it outrebounds its opponent. On Sunday, the Wildcats outrebounded the Illini 39-34. 

“We spread out in our defense,” Bollant said. “We didn’t get to the offensive boards quite as much, but we missed a lot more shots, too. They missed 13 shots, and we missed 23 (in the second half). They get more opportunities (to rebound) when we missed 10 more shots.”

Recruiting changes

The NCAA Division I board of directors approved 25 of 26 proposals Saturday that will “deregulate” and “simplify” the rulebook. The changes will go into effect Aug. 1. Some of the rule changes of note:

— Coaches will be allowed to contact recruits via social media, phone calls and text messages without restriction.

— Up to $300 per year can be provided to athletes, in addition to the normal expenses already spent by programs.

— Coaches can contact athletes July 1 between their sophomore and junior years of high school.

Eight-day break

During the eight-day break before Illinois heads to Minnesota on Jan. 28, the team will have a players-only meeting. The layoff is the team’s second-longest break between games this season. 

After Illinois beat Oregon 80-62 at Assembly Hall on Dec. 12, the Illini returned home Dec. 21 to endure a 69-68 upset loss against Illinois State.

Michael can be reached at [email protected] and @m_dubb.