Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois
Women's Basketball Downed by Illinois, 65-45
2/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern University women's basketball team gave Illinois a battle into the second half Thursday night in Champaign, but fell to the Illini, 65-45.
The Wildcats are now 4-18 (0-12 Big Ten), while Illinois improved to 12-11 (7-4 Big Ten).
The first half was an evenly-played affair, as neither team opened up more than a four-point lead until Illinois' Iveta Marcauskaite hit a pair of free throws with 1:07 left. That was part of a 10-0 run by the Illini, as NU went the final 3:39 without a point and 6:18 without a field goal. By the break, Illinois was up, 35-26.
In the second half, the difference hovered around the nine-point mark until the 16-minute mark. At that point, Illinois -- up 39-31 at the time -- went on an 8-2 run. Northwestern then got a jumper from Michelle Zylstra, but then the Illini scored the next 17 points over a seven-minute span to make the score 64-35.
Tami Sears led the way for Northwestern in the scoring column, with 12 points. She also had four assists and three steals. Dana Leonard was the only other player in double figures, with 11 points.
For Illinois, Allison Curtin had 17 points, five assists and three steals. Cindy Dallas had a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards, while Marcauskaite added 10 points.
Northwestern will be back in action Sunday afternoon, taking on Wisconsin at 2 p.m. Sunday is 'Pack The Place 2001' at Welsh-Ryan, with all tickets costing just $1.
