Cougars Hold Their Own Against Illini

November 9, 2008

         CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's basketball gave the University of Illinois at least a sliver of humble pie on Sunday in the final exhibition game for both teams.
         Even though the final score of 68-53, with the Illini winning, doesn't tell the story, the Cougars played well at both ends of the floor and often kept a usually boisterous Assembly Hall crowd in a hush.
         SIUE led at halftime 26-24 by minimizing turnovers and turning Illinois mistakes into Cougar positives. The Cougars led by as much as 10 points with 2:24 left to play in the first half. Madison Meade hit a three-pointer to put the Cougars up by double digits. An 8-0 run for the Illini was the team's lone highlight of the first 20 minutes and closed the gap to within two points.
         "We wanted to come out aggressive," said SIUE Coach Amanda Levens.
         Jenny Wuest led SIUE with 12 points followed by 11 from freshman Kate Affourtit and 10 from Ashley Bey.
         SIUE played a more disciplined game, forcing 21 turnovers by the Illini and committing 16.
         The Illini took the lead for good at 11:22 on a three-pointer by Fabiola Josil. Illinois pulled away over the next 10 minutes behind three three-pointers by Josil and a double-double from All-American center Jenna Smith. The 6-3 center scored 23 points, including 15 in the second half, and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.
         "We started the second half flat after we had just talked about not doing that in the locker room," said Levens. "It's an adjustment we'll make. I hope they learn from it."
         Levens said the Illinois' Smith could have been frustrated but kept plugging away, hitting five of her last six shots before being taken out of the game for good at the 6:12 mark in the second half.
         "We did a great job them in the first half. But you have to give them credit. They made us pay for letdowns," said Levens.
         Illinois surged in the second half, running the Cougars on the fast break and shooting 56.7 percent over the final 20 minutes.
         SIUE now begins the regular season next Saturday when it plays host to Illinois-Springfield in a 2 p.m. game at the Vadalabene Center.
                  -siue-

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Players Mentioned

#23 Kate Affourtit: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#10 Ashley Bey: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#12 Madison Meade: G; 5' 6"; Freshman

#31 Jenny Wuest: F; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#23 Kate Affourtit
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#10 Ashley Bey
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#12 Madison Meade
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: G

#31 Jenny Wuest
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F