Despite Smith's effort, Illini drop heartbreaker

PHILADELPHIA – Illinois, behind a strong first half from senior Jenna Smith, had Temple on the ropes early, but the Owls won the teams' season opener in dramatic fashion Friday night.

Temple, which got a career-high 27 points from Shaqwedia Wallace and a career-high-tying 19 from Kristen McCarthy, rallied from an 18-point deficit to win 82-78 in overtime.

Smith paced the Illini with 24 points and 10 rebounds for the 33rd double-double of her career, but it wasn't enough at McGonigle Hall.

Illinois led 74-58 after sophomore Fabiola Josil connected on a three-pointer with 5:51 to play, but the Owls' defensive pressure helped them go on a 17-1 run.

The Illini led 75-72 with about 30 seconds left, but freshman Adrienne GodBold fouled McCarthy on a three-point attempt with 15.3 seconds to play.

McCarthy made the three free throws to tie the score, and UI freshman Amber Moore's 25-foot attempt was off the mark at the buzzer.

In overtime, Smith scored a basket on Illinois' first possession to give her team a 77-76 lead, but the Illini made one free throw the rest of the game.

Temple's LaKeisha Eaddy, who had nine points, 10 assists and five rebounds, iced the game with 17 seconds left in OT when she gave the Owls a four-point cushion.

UI senior Lacey Simpson, who had 15 points, five rebounds, five steals and two blocks, fouled out with three minutes left in regulation and Illinois up by nine. UI freshman Karisma Penn had 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in her collegiate debut, but she fouled out with 2:13 left in overtime.

The Illini, who led 43-26 at halftime, closed the first half on a 16-2 run.

Illinois, which hosts Siena at 4 p.m. Sunday, shot 50 percent from the field (30 of 60) and hit 41 percent from behind the arc (7 of 17), but the Illini's ball-handling mistakes led to a 29-11 edge in points off turnovers for the Owls.

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