Nov. 16, 2008

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Game 2: Eastern Illinois (1-0) at Illinois (1-0)
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 // 12 p.m. // Assembly Hall (16,618) // Champaign, Ill.

On The Air
Radio: Illini Sports Network - WDWS AM 1400 (Dave Loane and Mike Koon)
Internet: Fightingillini.com live streaming video (All-Access) and Gametracker (free)

The Series
Illinois leads 8-5 overall and 3-2 in Champaign Last Meeting: Illinois 86, EIU 56 (11/9/07 in Charleston)

The Coaches
Illinois: Jolette Law, 21-15 overall and at Illinois (second season)
EIU: Brady Sallee, 50-68 overall and at EIU (fifth season)

Notes Supplement for Eastern Illinois
• Illinois opened the season with a 64-44 road victory over IPFW on Friday afternoon. The Illini have now won seven straight season-openers dating back to 2001.

• Junior All-American center Jenna Smith had 29 points against IPFW to go over 1,000 for her career. She is the 22nd player in school history to reach the milestone and is the seventh fastest to do so, accomplishing the feat in 66 games. Smith hit 12-of-17 from the field and added eight rebounds in the win.

• Junior forward Lacey Simpson nearly became the second player in school history to record a triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds and nine steals against IPFW. She hit 8-of-9 from the field and her nine steals were a new career-high and equal the second-highest single game total in school history.

• Five players made their Illini debuts at IPFW on Friday. They are junior college transfer Whitney Toone, redshirt freshman Lydia McCully and freshmen Macie Blinn, Fabiola Josil and Lana Rukavina.

• The Illini are looking for their 11th straight home-opening win today and are 28-6 all-time in home openers.

• Illinois is looking for its 200th victory at Assembly Hall today when EIU comes to town. The Illini are 199-104 all-time (.657) in 22 years at the Assembly Hall.

• Smith need two blocks to reach 100 for her career. She would become the fifth player at Illinois to reach that number. The school record is 156 by Kendra Gantt.

• Eastern Illinois won its season opener on Friday night, 82-74, over Miami (Ohio). Rachael Galligan led five Panthers in double-figures with 17 points and also added nine rebounds. EIU shot 53 percent from the field and shot 48 free throws in the game.

• Head coach Jolette Law signed the best recruiting class in school history on Wednesday, the first day of the fall signing period. The class of Adrienne GodBold (Marshall HS, Chicago, Ill.), Brianna Jones (Central Catholic HS, Toledo, Ohio), Kersten Magrum (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.), Amber Moore (Country Day HS, Detroit, Mich.), Karisma Penn (Shaker Heights HS, Shaker Heights, Ohio) and Destiny Williams (Benton Harbor HS, Benton Harbor, Mich.) is ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz.