ILLINOIS TOOK ON MINNESOTA IN A WOMENS BASKETBALL GAME

It was cancer awareness day on Feb. 9 as Illinois and Minnesota squared off in a women's basketball game at Williams Arena. Both teams wore shirts that read, “United We Fight”.

Illinois came into the game with an overall record of 9-14 and were 2-8 in the Big Ten. Minnesota came into the game with an overall of 14-9 and were 3-6 in the Big Ten.

Minnesota won the tip. Both teams started in a zone defense. Minnesota looked to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition.

Minnesota’s Rachel Banham looked to get her teammates involved in the offense. She was called out plays that she wanted ran. Banham looked to get the ball into the hands of Amanda Zahui who was on the low block. Zahui was able to get the ball in the post and wanted to make layups.

Illinois called a timeout with 16:56 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 6, Illinois 2.

Minnesota was not afraid to swing the ball around the three-point line as they looked to shift the defense. Minnesota was able to attack the zone defense that Illinois was playing.

There was a media timeout with 15:19 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 9, Illinois 2.

Zahui was able to consistently hit three point shots.

 

Illinois took a lot of time off the shot clock as they passed the ball around the three-point line. They would start looking for their shot with under 10 seconds left on the shot clock.

 

Illinois Amber Moore came off the bench and provided an offensive spark as she was able to connect on mid-range jump shots.

 

There was a media timeout with 10:57 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 18, Illinois 12.

 

Minnesota was able to score baskets in transition. Banham made good passes to Zahui who was able to make layups in transition.

 

Illinois’ Alexis Smith took the ball hard to the basket as she tried to make layups. Minnesota did a good job of Smith down as she drove to the basket.

 

There was a media timeout with 7:54 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 20, Illinois 12.

 

Illinois came out of the timeout and went to a zone defense. They switched up between man-to-man and zone throughout.

 

On the offensive end Illinois came to life after the media timeout. Moore continued to hit shots in traffic. She was also able to hit a few mid-range jump shots.

 

There was a media timeout with 3:12 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 24, Illinois 21.

 

Minnesota continued to attack the basket late in the first half.

 

Illinois’ Ivory Crawford and Moore continued to shoot well late. They both stepped up and were able to knock down big shots.

 

At halftime the score was Illinois 28, Minnesota 27.

 

The second half got off to a quick start for Minnesota as Banham got hot from behind the three-point line and got the lead back.

 

Minnesota called a timeout with 17:38 left in regulation. The score was Minnesota 32, Illinois 28.

 

Minnesota got careless with the ball as they turned it over and Illinois was able to get points off the turnovers.

 

Banham continued to shoot well from behind the three-point line. She picked up her third foul with 16:31 left in the game however. She continued to play.

 

There was a media timeout with 15:37 left in regulation. The score was Minnesota 35, Illinois 32.

 

Illinois was able to create havoc on the defensive end. They made Minnesota go into a panic on offense. Minnesota didn’t turn the ball over however on the trap.

 

There were many loose balls in the second half.

 

There was a media timeout with 11:54 left in regulation. The score was Illinois 38, Minnesota 37.

 

The score continued to go back and forth in the second half. Neither team gave up any easy baskets.

 

Illinois called a timeout with 10:21 left in regulation. The score was Illinois 43, Minnesota 39.

 

Illinois got hot in the second half. They were able to get past the Minnesota defenders and get to the basket.

 

There was a media timeout with 7:50 left in regulation. The score was Illinois 46, Minnesota 41.

 

Banham continued to hit her three-point shots in the second half. That kept Minnesota in the game.

 

Illinois continued to attack the glass late in regulation. They were able to slow down the Minnesota offense. Crawford continued to come up with some big plays. Her teammates kept on feeding her the ball.

 

Illinois called a timeout with 4:10 left in regulation. The score was Illinois 56, Minnesota 49.

 

The score continued to go back and forth late in the contest.

 

The game was tied at 58 with 2:05 left in regulation.

 

Zahui came up big down the stretch late in the game as she was able to make a layup that gave Minnesota had a two point lead with just under a minute to go.

 

Zahui was not afraid of contact and gave Minnesota an emotional boost of energy. She continued to hit layups late.

 

Minnesota came away with the 66-61 victory over Illinois.

 

As a team Illinois shot 20-57 from the field. That included going 8-27 from behind the three-point line. They were 13-14 from the free throw line. Illinois brought down a total of 27 rebounds, 18 of them on the defensive end. Illinois was lead in scoring by Crawford with 18 points, and Moore with 15 points.

 

Minnesota shot 24-50 from the field. That included going 6-15 from behind the three-point line. They were 12-15 from the free throw line. Minnesota brought down a total of 38 rebounds, 28 of them on the defensive end.

 

After the game Minnesota head coach Pam Borton and players Banham and Zahui spoke to the media about the game.