The Virginia women’s basketball team allowed Illinois to shoot 55 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers on the way to a 86-63 loss to Illinois in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge — — the team's worst loss of the season.
Coming into the game, the Fighting Illini (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten) had a +5.71 turnover margin, which was 43rd in the nation. Illinois was able to maintain its style of play, turning the ball over only 11 times — seven fewer than the Cavaliers.
Five of the Virginia (5-2, 0-0 ACC) turnovers came in the first 12 minutes of the game, a period in which the Cavaliers went 0-8 from the field. By the time Virginia made its first bucket 8:12 into the game, Illinois had built up a 13-0 lead.
After the sloppy start, the closest the Cavaliers got to the Illini was within 10 late in the first half. The Illini would go on an 8-0 run after that to close out the half at 38-22.
Illinois shot even better in the second half after making half of its shots in the first half. In the second half, the Illini made 60.7 percent of their shots, including 55.6 percent from three-point range after only shooting 25 percent from deep in the first half to acquire — at one point — a 34-point lead.
Illinois finished with five players in double-digits, including sophomore forward Jacqui Grant, who had 16 points and seven rebounds to lead her team.
Junior guard Faith Randolph scored 16 points on 5-of-17 shooting to lead the Cavaliers. Freshman forward Lauren Moses added a career-high 13 rebounds to help the Cavaliers out-rebound the Illini for the game.
With the win, Illinois helped to give the Big Ten a 5-3 advantage in the inter-conference series with eights games left to play.
The Cavaliers return to action at home on Saturday against Delaware State.
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