CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – An early run for Illinois would stake the Illini to an early lead, but a late fourth-quarter 9-0 run by Illinois State would put the Redbirds within two before the Illini (2-0) pulled away for a 75-65 win over the Redbirds (1-1) on Sunday at the State Farm Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Illinois jumped out to an 11-2 advantage, before head coach Kristen Gillespie called a timeout to calm her team down with 5:49 left in the first quarter. Back-to-back three-point makes by Nevaeh Thomas and Bella Finnegan would cut the Illini lead to 15-10 with 3:37 left and a layup by Kya Hurt in her first collegiate action would cut the lead to three at 15-12 a minute later.