UI women's preview: Bring on Siena

A statist

Game 2

Illinois women vs. Siena, 4 p.m. Sunday

LINEUPS

Siena (0-0)

Probable starters

P Name HT. YR. PPG

G Merrick Volpe 5-6 Sr. 0.0

G Allie Lindemann 5-8 Sr. 0.0

F Cathy Cockrum 5-9 Jr. 0.0

F Serena Moore 6-1 Jr. 0.0

F Sarah Fullmer 6-3 Sr. 0.0

Top reserves

G Cristina Centeno 5-8 So. 0.0

G Brittany Wilwohl 5-5 So. 0.0

G Charlieann Chacon 5-6 Sr. 0.0

illinois (0-1)

Probable starters

P Name HT. YR. PPG

G Adrienne GodBold 5-11 Fr. 6.0

G Lydia McCully 5-9 So. 4.0

C Jenna Smith 6-3 Sr. 24.0

F Lacey Simpson 6-1 Sr. 15.0

F Karisma Penn 6-2 Fr. 10.0

Top reserves

F Brianna Jones 6-2 Fr. 1.0

G Fabiola Josil 5-7 So. 5.0

G Amber Moore 5-11 Fr. 8.0

Facts & figures

Site: Assembly Hall, Champaign.

Radio: Dave Loane and Mike Koon call the action on WDWS 1400-AM and WDAN 1490-AM.

Series: First meeting.

Coaches: Gina Castelli (299-245 in 20th season at Siena and overall); Jolette Law (30-37 in third season at Illinois and overall).

Storylines

1

Welcome home

There will be a significant chunk of Champaign residents rooting against the Illini today. They're family and friends of Lindemann, a former Champaign Central star and News-Gazette All-Area Player of the Year. Lindemann tied for the third-most three-pointers (68) in a single season in school history a year ago, finishing second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at 2.4 per game. She was selected to the preseason All-MAAC third team. Don't look for the big stage to bother her; she scored 20 against Syracuse last season.

2

Short memories

Less than 48 hours ago, the Illini wasted a 16-point lead with 5:51 to play in an overtime loss to Temple. That's some serious baggage to overcome for a young team, but the Illini can't afford to let the Owls beat them twice. Law will be eager to see how well her team can put Friday's fiasco behind it, moving ahead toward bigger things. While Siena – picked to finish eighth in the MAAC – isn't the most daunting task on the schedule, Wednesday's game against underrated Central Michigan will be much tougher.

3

Everybody into the pool

Against Temple, all 14 Illini played in the first half. Ten saw at least 10 minutes of action in the game. Law clearly is trying to give every Illini a chance to play early in the season, establishing a winnowing-out process that will be critical as the season moves toward the Big Ten portion. She won't be using all 14 during Big Ten games. Eboni Mitchell and Lana Rukavina played two minutes apiece against the Owls; a sign that their positions are tenuous? We should find out more today, especially if the Illini can get another big lead.

Prediction

ILLINOIS 67, SIENA 51

The Illini probably would have preferred to open up against Siena rather than Temple, a perennial NCAA tournament team. The Saints aren't nearly as athletic as Temple, which forced 28 UI turnovers. That shouldn't be the case today. Illinois will steadily pull away for a fairly comfortable win. (News-Gazette prediction record: 0-1).

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