It was an affair of upperclassmen at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Thursday night.
Illinois had four players, including two juniors and a senior, in double figures as the Fighting Illini handed the Northwestern women’s basketball team its 10th straight loss, 76-52.
NU (7-14, 0-10 Big Ten) fought hard in the second half, led by junior Sarah Kwasinski’s aggresive play in the lane. But the Wildcats were unable to overcome an 11-point halftime deficit created by poor offensive rebounding and extensive penetration from the Illini.
Kwasinski led NU in points and rebounds, scoring 10 of her 12 in the second half and grabbing six rebounds. But her effort couldn’t keep the Cats from being outrebounded 41-28.
Illinois junior Tiffanie Guthrie had a career night, scoring a game-high 26 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
The Illini (9-12, 3-7) also had great performances from junior Angelina Williams, who finished with 12 points, and senior Cindy Dallas, who managed 13 points while breaking Illinois’ all-time rebounding record.
Perhaps Dallas’ record-breaking performance was appropriate on a night when the Cats were outrebounded 21-9 on the offensive end.
Illinois scored 40 points in the paint, and second chance points made up more than a quarter of the Illini’s scoring.
“We gave them too many opportunities,” coach June Olkowski said. “They had 21 offensive rebounds and we gave up nine turnovers for no reason. They also had very good penetration.”
Senior Michelle Zylstra said her team’s inability to stop Illinois’ upperclassmen wasn’t anything new for NU.
“It was completely a lack of us executing and being focused for two hours,” Zylstra said. “It’s the story of our season. Lindsay Bowen killed us in the overtime game against Michigan State. We did it against Indiana and we did it tonight. It’s no secret.”
Zylstra scored eight points and grabbed three boards that resulted from aggressive second-half play under the hoop. Junior Melissa Culver hit three treys on her way to 11 points.
But each time NU got something going, the Illini countered.
“Every time we knocked on the door, they got an offensive rebound or a three-point play,” Olkowski said.
One of the Cats’ only highlights was the return of junior Samantha McComb, who came in as a substitute with 12:09 remaining in the first half. The junior hadn’t played since Dec. 28 because of a stress-fracture.
McComb, who led the team with 12.1 points per game before being sidelined, played 16 minutes and scored six points with three assists.
The junior had one of the Cats’ four missed layups, but with a three-pointer and a successful layup, she showed hints of the talent and versatility that she was known for before getting injured.
“She seemed a little shaky and she probably feels a lot of pressure,” Olkowski said.
McComb will be a game-time decision for Sunday’s game at Michigan State, Olkowski said.
