Posted: 3/26/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Brad Vest Illinois' Jenna Smith fights past Purdue's Erin Lawless at Assembly Hall, Feb. 25. Smith led the Illini with a 14 point, 10 rebound double-double against Kansas State, but the Illini WNIT run ended 66-51 March 22 in the third round of the tournament. Illinois handled Utah 59-48 at the Assembly Hall in the second round following a first round bye.

Over the University's spring break, the women's basketball team was busy playing in the Women's National Invitational Tournament. The team advanced to the third round of the WNIT, but couldn't get past Kansas State.

The Illini (19-12, 8-9) had a bye in the first round and faced the Utah Utes (19-14, 10-6) in the second round at the Assembly Hall on March 19. Illinois didn't let a 16-day layoff hinder its play. Illinois jumped out to a 10-point lead at halftime and prevailed 59-48. Sophomore guard Lori Bjork, who led Illinois with 13 points, drilled 3 three-pointers and added an assist.

Redshirt freshman forward Lacey Simpson might have been 0-for-7 shooting, but her team play helped guide the Illini to victory. Simpson led Illinois with five assists and stole the ball three times, tying sophomore Chelsea Gordon for the team-high in steals.

Next, Illinois traveled to Manhattan, Kan., or the "Little Apple," to play the Kansas State Wildcats, a team carrying momentum after a 72-46 victory over Southern Illinois in its second round match-up.

But Illinois' season ended in Manhattan on March 22 with a 66-51 defeat at the hands of the Wildcats (18-14, 4-12). Kansas State guard Kimberly Dietz led her teammates to victory, scoring 19 points and tallying two steals.

"I take my hat off to Kansas State," Illinois head coach Theresa Grentz said. "They hit some key shots, and (coach) Deb Patterson's teams always play hard. They got after it.

"We knew it was going to be a nip and tuck type of ballgame. You expect that in the postseason."

On the bright side for the Illini, starting center Jenna Smith notched a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing a game-high 10 boards. Bjork scored 13 points and sunk 2-of-7 from the three-point line.

Grentz, who has now been with Illinois for 12 years, was pleased with the progress her team made this season.

"We're young," Grentz said. "We fought and we won a couple key games, and we got some good experience in this tournament. Overall, I think we had a very good season."

Illinois advanced to the postseason for the 10th time in 11 seasons. Sadly for Illini nation, senior Erin Wigley played her last game, finishing tied for 18th on Illinois' all-time scoring list with 1,023 points.

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