Conference Outlook: Illinois

Illinois reached the second round of the WNIT last season and returns three starters from a 15-14 squad. The returnees are led by senior Shavonna Hunter, who averaged 9.3 points and is third on the Fighting Illini's all-time steals list. In addition, senior Cindy Dallas, who was a second-team All-Big Ten selection, averaged 13.9 points per contest last year and has scored 648 points for her career. Dallas is also a strong rebounder, one of the best in the Big Ten. In contrast, they lose Iveta Marcauskaite, their number one scorer from last year, but are still hopeful for a successful season in Champaign. \n"These kids are extremely teachable," said coach Theresa Grentz, who is in her 27th year of coaching, her eighth at Illinois. "Not every player can play for me. Also, we've always been big, big, big, now we're going to have to play quick, quick, quick"