CHAMPAIGN — Kennedy Cattenhead and Sarah Hartwell looked to penetrate and finished strong at the basket. Kyley Simmons and Brooke Kissinger were sharp from the perimeter. Chatrice White, even battling some early foul trouble, provided an inside presence.
All told it was what Illinois coach Matt Bollant wanted, and it had the Illini trailing No. 6 Maryland by just seven at the half in a game that was even closer most of the first two quarters.
But it wasn’t sustainable.
Maryland opened the second half on an 11-2 run with Illinois unable to match its energy and intensity, and the Terrapins pulled away for a 79-63 victory in front of an announced crowd of 1,716 State Farm Center fans on the opening afternoon of Big Ten play.