The IU women's basketball team won both games against Illinois in the regular season.
However, it wasn't meant to be in the meeting that mattered most.
The Hoosiers (14-16, 7-12) overcame a sloppy offensive performance and nearly pulled off an improbable comeback before falling to the Fighting Illini (16-13, 8-11) in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
"We wanted that game so bad," IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said. "I thought we had a great game plan. We got opening shots. Just the stars wasn't lined up."
All game long, IU could not capitalize on offense when given breaks in the form of 25 Illinois turnovers.
The Hoosiers shot a meager 27.4 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers themselves.
Junior guard Jori Davis led IU in scoring with 20 points, but the Second Team All-Big Ten selection couldn't find her rhythm until midway through the second half. Davis scored just three points in the first half.
Senior guard Jamie Braun scored 13 points, all in the first half, and led the Hoosiers with eight rebounds in what might have been her final game at IU.
"I'm only taking the positives out of this," Braun said. "We may not have hung up a banner or made the NCAA tournament, but we worked hard every day to do what we needed to do and just fell short."
Check idsnews.com for a complete game wrap.
