University of Missouri
Illinois
Illinois Uses Strong Second Half to Defeat Mizzou 66-52
12/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Illinois used a strong second half to earn a 66-52 win over the Missouri women's basketball team on Wednesday night at Mizzou Arena. The Fighting Illini (8-3) shot 59 percent from the floor in the second half and outrebounded Mizzou (6-5) 36-25 in the game.
"I thought for the most part we got better in some areas," Missouri Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "I thought our defense was very good in the first half. Second half, we had too many breakdowns. Illinois is a very talented team."
Junior Alyssa Hollins led the Tigers with 14 points and was joined in double-figures by sophomore forward Amanda Hanneman, who scored 11, and freshman forward Shakara Jones, who had 10.
Entering the second half down by two, 28-26, Mizzou tied the game after Jones made a layup 46 seconds into the second frame. Illinois responded with an impressive 19-7 run to build a 47-35 lead with 12:00 left in the game after Chelsea Gordon nailed a three.
Missouri got as close as eight, 51-43 after Jones made a jumper with just under eight minutes remaining but Illinois held on and eventually built a 20-point advantage, 64-45, 2ith 3:25 left. Mizzou cut into the margin to put the final score at 66-52.
The Tigers and Fighting Illini stayed close throughout the first half with neither team gaining an advantage. After Illinois' Lori Bjork sank a 3-pointer to put the Fighting Illini up 10-6 with 15:39 left in the first, Hollins made a jumper and Johnson hit a three to give the Tigers an 11-10 advantage.
Mizzou increased its lead to 18-13 with 8:57 on the clock when Johnson made a jumper but Illinois countered with a 12-2 fun over the next 2:51 to gain a 25-20 lead. The Tigers chipped away at the deficit and entered the break down just two, 28-26.
Mizzou travels to Charlottesville, Va., to compete in the Marriott Cavalier Classic with Delaware State, Marshall and host Virginia Dec. 28-29. The Tigers open play against Marshall on Friday, Dec. 28 at 3:30 p.m. CT and will play either Delaware State or Virginia on Saturday, Dec. 29 in either the championship or consolation game at 6 p.m. CT or 3:30 p.m. CT, respectively. -30-
