Senior Night for Women's Basketball vs. Illinois

by Josh Bolander

The Iowa women’s basketball team improved its overall record to 19-9 (12-5) Thursday night at Carver Hawkeye Arena with a 69-56 victory over Illinois 8-20 (4-13). The win was extra sweet for the five Hawkeye seniors who, during the last three minutes of the second half, took the court for the first time together since their freshman year against Purdue. Senior night provided many highlights but perhaps the most intriguing was that seniors Wendy Ausdemore, Megan Skouby, and Kristi Smith broke the Big 10 all time trio scoring record after combining to score the first six points of the game. Although Illinois put together a late charge in the second half, behind 20 points and 8 rebounds from Big 10 player of the year candidate Jenna Smith, the Hawks were able to control the final ten minutes and lock up there twelfth Big 10 win and secure the fourth seed in the upcoming Big 10 tournament. Bench scoring turned out to be the difference in the game with the Hawks outscoring the Illini 16-3.