BTN.com staff, December 28, 2011
(FightingIllini.com) Sophomore Kersten Magrum scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds while junior Karisma Penn added 14 points and 12 rebounds to help lift Illinois to an 83-65 victory over Alabama A&M in the final non-conference game of the season. With the ninth-rated schedule in the nation, the Illini finish that part of the schedule at 6-7 while Alabama A&M falls to 5-5. BOX
The Illini used hot shooting to forge to a 40-27 halftime lead and built an early 51-33 second-half advantage. Every time the Lady Bulldogs made runs, Illinois answered. The Bulldogs pulled to within 55-46 at the 10:19 mark of the second half, only to see the Illini score six straight to take a 61-46 lead. When AAMU got to within 63-51, the Illini used an 8-2 run to put the game away and led by as many as 20 (at 77-57).