Illinois’ women’s basketball team came into the Big 10 season hoping to climb into the league’s first division. But with their ranks thinned by academic difficulties, the Fighting Illini have fallen to 1-7 in the conference and 6-11 overall.
Illinois will try to stay out of the conference cellar when it meets Michigan (3-14, 0-8) in Ann Arbor, Mich., Friday night.
Academic woes claimed star guard Robbyn Preacely before the season and center Cindi Hanna at midseason. Illinois has only seven scholarship athletes.
The Illini lost to No. 13 Purdue 84-57 Sunday afternoon in West Lafayette, Ind., their sixth straight loss to a ranked opponent. Anita Clinton hit 10 of 13 from the field and scored a career-high 24 points.
Kris Dupps leads the team with 16.6 points per game. Mandy Cunningham, who started her 100th straight collegiate game against the Boilermakers, is averaging 16.1 points.
Grappling: Illinois has placed three wrestlers in the national rankings. Steve Marianetti (24-1) moved up to second nationally at 142 pounds last week, while Charles Gary (19-7) improved to No. 7. Ernest Benion (24-7) is 12th at 158 pounds.
The Illini are 4-3-1 overall but have yet to win a conference meet (0-3-1).