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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) -- No one dunked on Illinois this time.
The Illini lost to a long shot Saturday -- three of them actually.
Nadine Brandt made three 3-pointers in the final 2:09, and Katie
Sorrell sank two critical free throws as Northern Iowa beat No. 24
Illinois 74-70.
Northern Iowa (5-1) blew an eight-point lead, then rallied from
a four-point deficit for its first victory over a ranked team.
"There is no question that is the biggest win in the history of
women's basketball at the University of Northern Iowa," Northern
Iowa coach Tony DiCecco said.
"We had about a seven-minute stretch where we didn't know where
we were, but I'll tell you what, for the rest of the time, we
battled and scratched."
Illinois (2-3) couldn't hold on despite Iveta Marcauskaite's
strong play down the stretch and lost for the third straight time.
The losing streak started with a 111-62 to Tennessee, a game
remembered because Tennessee's Michelle Snow dunked.
Northern Iowa doesn't have a player like Snow, but the Panthers
made all the right plays when they needed them, especially when
they had to get Brandt open on the wing to rally.
Kary Dawson led Northern Iowa with 21 points, Abbie Schutte
scored 16 and Brandt had 15 on five 3-point baskets, the last one
with 28.6 seconds left to break the final tie.
"We were in a man-to-man, we were guarding them, she shot them,
she hit them," Illinois coach Theresa Grentz said. "Life goes
on."
The Northern Iowa victory spoiled the hometown return for
Illinois freshman Anne O'Neil, who starred at Cedar Rapids Kennedy
High School and is Iowa's career scoring leader in girls
basketball.
O'Neil and Marcauskaite led Illinois with 18 points each.
Marcauskaite had 16 in the final 9:31.
Illinois was leading 66-62 after Marcauskaite converted a
three-point play when Brandt started her late surge.
First she hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to draw the
Panthers to 66-65. Then she connected from the right side to put
Northern Iowa ahead 68-66.
Marcauskaite tied with it on a putback with 1:08 remaining, then
made a turnaround to tie it at 70 after Sorrell sank two free
throws -- her first shots at the line all season.
Brandt then found herself open on the left side when Illinois'
Allison Curtin dropped off to stop the ball in the lane, got the
pass and made her game-winning 3 from two steps beyond the arc.
"I just look where my defender is," Brandt said. "When she's
backed off me, I shoot it."
Amy Swisher sank a free throw for the final Northern Iowa point
after Illinois' Shavonna Hunter threw up an airball from well
beyond the 3-point line with 9 seconds left.
Illinois, which has no seniors, shot 49 percent and outrebounded
Northern Iowa 36-27 but committed 21 turnovers.
"We're a young team the played well in certain things," Grentz
said. "I thought we fought back a little harder today, but we're
still a little short. This team will look different after
Christmas. Trust me, we'll be ready by the time March comes."
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ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
Illinois Clubhouse
Northern Iowa Clubhouse
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