Illinois opens Big Ten play with OT loss to Indiana

The Illini opened Big Ten conference play against the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday night where they fell in overtime, 85-83.

Illiniois (8-4) shot 45 percent to open the game and were 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Senior Alex Wittinger and junior Brandi Beasley led Illinois with 19 points each. Freshman Mackenzie Blazek earned a career-best 10 rebounds.

The Illini led by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter, as Blazek tallied 7 rebounds in the period, but Indiana pulled ahead and evened the score in the last two minutes

Overtime

The score was kept close, as Indiana scored first and the Illini took back the lead with three-straight points. The Hoosiers pulled forward to secure the win.

Up Next:

Illinois will begin a two-game road stretch at Northwestern on New Year’s Eve.

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