Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Chicago State women's basketball found itself in a tough battle in its first road contest of the season tonight against host Illinois at the State Farm Center by hanging tough with them through the final minutes before falling by a score of 66-56.
The Fighting Illini opened the game with a 14-1 run in the first five minutes of the first quarter before CSU rallied to score 26 of the next 48 points scored through a 16-plus minute stretch to pull within nine at 43-34 at the 5:11 mark of the third quarter. Illinois then closed the third with a 9-2 run to increase its leading margin to 52-36.
In the fourth quarter, the Green and White went on to outscore the home team by a 15-9 margin in a seven-minute span to pull within 61-51 on a jumper from sophomore Ines Mata Boix, but the Illini would hold on down the stretch for the victory.
Mata Boix recorded her first collegiate double-double to lead CSU (0-2) as she tallied 13 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. She shot 5-of-8 from the field and tied another career high with three steals.
Redshirt senior Phylicia Johnson produced a season-best 14 points and tied for game-high honors with four assists, while freshman Tyeshia Bowers added season highs of 10 points and four assists.
Alex Wittinger recorded game highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead Illinois (2-1).
CSU returns to action on Saturday afternoon at the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center as it hosts Jackson State on Homecoming in a live WAC Digital Network broadcast with the tip-off set for 2 p.m.
