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Illini women trying to avoid a deeper freeze

CHAMPAIGN — J-Naya Ephraim walked into Ubben Basketball Complex on Wednesday afternoon wearing an "Illinois" stocking cap over her dreadlocks.

While waiting for an interview, Ephraim — no longer wearing that same headgear — was seen shivering, as she stood close to the back door.

You see, Ephraim isn't used to the kind of sub-freezing temperatures that have settled over Champaign-Urbana the past few days.

Sure, Ephraim lived five years in Durham, N.C., attending Southern Durham High School, but the freshman guard on the Illinois women's basketball team can never recall the temperature dipping below 10 degrees.