Nov. 21, 2003

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - For the nearly 200 women who returned to their alma mater, the night meant reflecting back on their memories and celebrating how far women's sports had come. For the 14 players and the Illini coaching staff, it was the beginning of what could be a special season in Champaign. In the end everyone wearing Orange and Blue celebrated an 85-50 victory by Illinois over visiting Wayne State in the season opener at Assembly Hall.

The weekend is called Illinois 3D (Dreams, Desire, Determination) and brings the women who played intercollegiate sports at Illinois prior to the school making women's sports varsity in 1974. The women will formally receive their letter at a ceremony on Sunday.

The 1,903 in attendance saw a glimpse of just how entertaining and well this Illini team can play as Illinois rolled to a 52-12 halftime lead. Aminata Yanni scored 20 of her game-high 27 points in the first 13 minutes of the game as Illinois rolled to a 36-6 lead. The 12 points by Wayne State in the first half tied an Assembly Hall record for fewest points in a half by an opponent.

Angelina Williams scored 22 points and Tiffanie Guthrie added 14 points for Illinois who won its six opener in nine tries under Theresa Grentz. Wayne State, a Division II school from Detroit, Mich., falls to 1-3 on the season.

With the victory, the Illini can begin preparing for 11th-ranked Louisiana Tech, which comes to the Hall for a big non-conference match-up on Monday night.

The game was never in doubt as the Orange and Blue sprinted out to leads of 13-0, 28-2 and 50-8 en route to a 52-12 advantage at the break. Yanni totaled 20 points in the first 20 minutes to nearly double the WSU point total herself.

The Illini cruised to victory in the second half. In addition to her 27 points, Yanni also registered a game-high five steals and pulled down six rebounds. Williams had a stellar all-around game with eight rebounds, four assists, two block and two steals to go with her 22 points. Tiffanie Guthrie was the only other Illini in double figures, she poured in 14 points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

UI physically dominated the Warriors to the tune of a 53-25 rebounding advantage, 13 steals and seven blocked shots.

Freshmen Erin Wigley, Missy Mitidiero, Audrey Tabon and Kira Mowen all made their Fighting Illini debuts in the victory. Tabon had six points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.