WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — One step forward, two steps back.
The Illinois women's basketball team welcomed Arieal Scott back to the lineup for Thursday night's game at Purdue after a one-game absence because of an ankle injury.
Then, in the second quarter against the Boilermakers, the Illini's best player went down to a similar ailment, with Alex Wittinger also injuring her ankle.
The 6-foot-2 forward — who was averaging a team-high 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds going into Thursday night — returned to the game after having her ankle taped during a timeout before leaving again in the second quarter and never re-entering the Illini's eventual 72-50 loss to Purdue in front of 6,024 fans at Mackey Arena.