Women's Basketball 11/20/2016 12:00:00 AM

Popplewell Posts Career-High in Loss at Illinois

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. – Riley Popplewell finished with a career-high 15 points but it wasn't enough as the Illinois Fighting Illini defeated USC Upstate 77-57 in non-conference action at the State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon.

Illinois improves to 2-2 while Upstate falls to 2-2.

Popplewell's 15 points surpassed her previous career-best 11 points. A'Lexxus Davis pulled down a team-best five rebounds while Brittney Delva led Upstate with three assists. Illinois had five players finish in double figures, led by Ali Andrews with 15 points.

Game Breakdown

Illinois began the game on a 6-1 run before the Spartans trimmed the Fighting Illini lead to 6-5 following jumpers by Davis and Raven Jefferson at the 4:59 mark. The Spartans will hang within five points for the remainder of the quarter as Illinois led 16-11 after the first 10 minutes.
A pair of Andrews free throws gave the hosts a 20-13 lead with 8:06 remaining in the second quarter before Vanessa Agrusa sank two free throws to pull Upstate within two, 25-23, with 4:00 to go. The Fighting Illini outscored Upstate 11-4 for the remainder of the quarter and led 36-27 at halftime.
Tamera Thorpe brought Upstate to within eight, 43-35 at the 5:07 mark of the third quarter following a free throw. Illinois responded with a 10-2 run for a 53-37 lead. The Fighting Illini led 55-41 at the end of the third quarter.
Delva cut the Spartan deficit to 55-43 with a layup 50 seconds into the fourth quarter but Upstate would get no closer the rest of the way.

By the Numbers

The Spartans scored 16 points in the second and fourth quarters.
Illinois outrebounded Upstate 49-28 and outscored the Spartans 32-20 in the paint.
Upstate went 2-for-13 in 3-point field goal attempts with Bailey Wensler making both 3-pointers.
Both teams finished with 14 fouls.

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