Illinois` women`s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with an 82-69 victory Sunday over Cincinnati in Assembly Hall. Kris Dupps, a sophomore forward, led Illinois with 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Freshman Anita Clinton, from Proviso West High School, turned in her first double-double with a 16-point, 11-rebound performance, while Robbyn Preacely scored 17 points. Preacely, the former Morgan Park High School star, leads the team in scoring with a 16.8 average, but has yet to start a game.
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The Illini improved to 4-2 heading into the Lady Gator Classic in Gainesville, Fla., Dec. 29 and 30. They`ll meet Detroit Mercy in the opener and either Florida or Florida A&M the next night.
Illinois has shot better than 52 percent twice this year and was one basket away from topping the 50 percent mark against the Bearcats. That`s an improvement for a team that didn`t shoot better than 50 percent from the floor in a single game in the previous two years.
Top-ranked golfers: Illinois` women`s golf team is ranked No. 1 in the NCAA`s Midwest Region and No. 5 in the nation in the final fall rankings. They`re the highest ranked team from outside the warm-weather states.
The Illini are led by two-time All-American Renee Heiken, who`s top-ranked in the Midwest and No. 3 in the nation.