Freshman Macie Blinn poured on a career high 16 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Illini women fell to Minnesota, 52-48, in front of 7,052 orange-clad fans at Assebly Hall.  Thanks to all who came out to this game.  Your attendance made it the most attended Illini women’s game in nearly six years.  Click the link below for a game recap.

http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/010309aaa.html

The orange and blue still have two more home games over break on January 12th and 15th, so make plans to stop by and cheer them on.  In the meantime, the team will head to Michigan on Thursday for a battle with the Wolverines.  Michigan coach Kevin Borseth made headlines last year for a postgame outburst.  Click the link below to see the tirade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvo5XO1kH1c

ATTENTION BLUE CREW AND ILLINI PRIDE!

Just because the semester is winding down doesn’t mean that you should stop showing your support for Jolette Law and our AMAZING Illini women’s basketball team!  The orange and blue will tip off the Big Ten season with five games over winter break, and your Blue Crew chairs have some exciting promotions in store.  Here’s the scoop…

*  Like usual, your Blue Crew chairs will be taking attendance during the five break games.  Whoever attends the most games will win the opportunity to be an honorary coach at a future home game this season.  You’ll get to meet the team, sit on the bench during the game, and get some Illini gear…all for FREE!

*  The highlight of the break games will be the PACK THE HALL GAME on January 3rd, when the Fighting Illini take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers.  Not only will this game be broadcast LIVE on CBS (that’s right…CBS), but it will also be the second of two Orange Krush nights at women’s basketball.  So stop by, cheer on the team, get on national TV, and get your coveted roadtrip point.  

To attend this game, you need to pick up a special “Pack The Hall” ticket at the Assembly Hall ticket office, Gameday Spirit, or the Illini Pride cubicle in the Union.  And most importantly, WEAR ORANGE AND BE LOUD!  This is our chance to show the nation how much of a homecourt advantage our ladies have.

To recap, here is the schedule for the five break games…

*  December 22nd vs. Purdue @ 7 PM
*  January 1st vs. Wisconsin @ 7 PM
*  January 3rd vs. Minnesota @ 11 AM (PACK THE HALL)
*  January 12th vs. Ohio State @ 7 PM
*  January 15th vs. Iowa @ 7 PM

Remember, women’s basketball games are 100% FREE, and you are GUARANTEED courtside seats!  No ticket distribution!  No waiting in line!  Just show up, check in at the Northwest Entrance, and head to the floor seats!

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail Tim Ditman at tditman2@illinois.edu.

GO ILLINI!

After a frustrating past couple of weeks, the Illini women’s basketball team got another notch in the win column tonight with a 63-61 win over UW-Milwaukee on the road.  Jenna Smith and Lacey Simpson both ended in double figures, with 20 and 12 points respectively.

The orange and blue have five games coming up over winter break, and you’ll definitely want to attend those games because your Blue Crew chairs have some awesome promotions in store.  Check this space and your e-mail in the coming days for more information.

HOLA BLUE CREW!

As temperatures continue to drop outside, things are heating up inside Assembly Hall as the Illini women’s basketball team continues to rattle off victory after victory.  The orange and blue once again find themselves in the national spotlight this Thursday as they take on the ACC powerhouse Virginia Cavaliers as a part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.  UVA has been pretty full of themselves lately after they upset #5 Tennessee on the road on November 17th.  Let’s put them back in their place on Thursday and show them who the real contender is.

Not only will this game be televised LIVE on the Big Ten Network, but it is also the first of two Orange Krush nights at women’s basketball.  So stop by, cheer on the team, get on TV, and snag your coveted roadtrip point.

To recap…

What:  Illini Women’s Basketball vs. Virginia
When:  Thursday @ 7:30 PM
Where:  Assembly Hall

Remember, women’s basketball games are 100% FREE for students, and you are GUARANTEED a courtside seat without freezing for hours outside of Assembly Hall!  Just make sure to sign in at the Northwest Entrance when you arrive to build up your chances at scoring some great prizes as the season progresses.

GO ILLINI!

The Temple Owls swooped into Assembly Hall Sunday night and dealt the Illini women’s basketball team thgeir first loss of the season, 66-47.  Jenna Smith led the way for the orange and blue with a double-double, 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The 3-1 Illini now head to sunny Cancun, Mexico, on Wednesday for three games in the Cancun Carribean Challenge Tournament.  They’ll return home on December 4th to take on Virginia in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.  This game will be the first of two Orange Krush nights at women’s basketball, so stop by and get your coveted roadtrip point as you cheer on the Illini.  More information on that game will be posted here in the coming days.

Tenacious second half defense defense and a career night from Junior Lacey Simpson propelled the Illini women’s basketball team to a 65-55 win over the Missouri Tigers on Wednesday.  Simpson chipped in 18 points as the Illini improved to 3-0 on the year.  Click the link below for a game recap:

http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/112008aab.html

Now the question is…what’s the best way to kick off your fall break?  A day packed full of Illini basketball, that’s what!  This Sunday, the Illini men’s team takes on Jackson State at 3 PM, and after that it’s the main event as the Jolette Law and the 3-0 Illini women take on the Temple Owls at 7:30 PM.  The team has really been feeding off our support lately, so let’s send them off to fall break with a big home victory!

We’ll be giving away any remaining media guides and autographed posters at the Temple game, so be sure to get there early and snag yours!  You’ll also get a copy of “Blues Clues”, the official women’s basketball newsletter with game recaps, player spotlights, and (most importantly) the JUICIEST info on our opponents for your heckling pleasure.

To recap…

What:  Illini Women’s Basketball vs. Temple
When:  Sunday @ 7:30 PM
Where:  Assembly Hall

Remember, women’s basketball games are 100% FREE for students, and you are GUARANTEED a courtside seat without freezing for hours outside of Assembly Hall!  Just make sure to sign in at the Northwest Entrance when you arrive to build up your chances at scoring some great prizes as the season progresses.

GO ILLINI!

The season is off and rolling for the Illini women’s basketball team, and so far this young and talented squad has been able to rise up to the challenge.  However, we have some high caliber opponents coming to the House of Paign in the next few weeks, and it starts this Wednesday when the orange and blue take on the Missouri Tigers.

This game marks the first of many where your Blue Crew chairs will be providing a carpool to the game for those who don’t live near Assembly Hall.  From 7:45-8:15, stop by the circle drive outside of Huff Hall at the corner of Fourth and Gregory and catch a free ride to the game.

Once you arrive, be prepared to get loud and crazy.  Not only is Wednesday’s game televised LIVE on the Big Ten Network, but we will be giving away tons of prizes to the loudest and craziest fans…including a grand prize of a football autographed by Ron Zook!  DIA is also sponsoring a winter clothing drive for this game, so we will also be giving away prizes if you bring a winter clothing item to donate.

To recap…

What:  Illini Women’s Basketball vs. Mizzou
When:  Wednesday @ 8:30 PM (Carpool at Huff Hall from 7:45-8:15)
Where:  Assembly Hall (***CHECK IN AT THE NORTHWEST ENTRANCE***)

SEE YOU AT THE HALL!

Fighting Illini women’s basketball is off to a 2-0 start after victories over IPFW and Eastern Illinois this weekend.  Junior Jenna Smith led the Illini in scoring on both occasions, passing the 1,000 point mark for her career in the process.

The orange and blue return to the court this Wednesday to take on the Mizzou Tigers at Assembly Hall.  Check this space in the coming days for more information on that game.

HEY BLUE CREW!

After a successful exhibition tune up vs. SIU-E last weekend, the Illini women’s basketball team will take the court for their first regular season home game this Sunday as they take on Eastern Illinois.  This in-state rivalry has grown to epic proportions over the last few years, and this year’s matchup promises to be full of excitement and hard hitting action.

Because both the men’s and women’s teams have a game on Sunday, Blue Crew will once again be teaming with Orange Krush in an attempt to get as many fans as possible out to both games.  Here’s how it works…Come to the women’s game at noon, and at the end of the game you’ll get a hand stamp if you’re a member of Orange Krush.  That stamp will allow you to go directly to the front of your designated Orange Krush line (All-American or Varsity) for the Men’s game vs. Texas A&M-CC at 4:30 PM that same day.  You must, however, arrive at Assembly Hall by 3:10 PM at the latest in order to redeem your hand stamp.  Otherwise, regular line procedures for Krush will apply.  In a nutshell, this is an easy way for you to not only get great seats for both games, but support both teams as well!

We’ll also be giving out autographed posters and media guides to the first lucky fans at the women’s game…so get there early!  Don’t forget…women’s basketball games are FREE for all students, and you are GUARANTEED a courtside seat without having to freeze for hours outside of Assembly Hall!

To recap…

What:  Illini Women’s Basketball vs. EIU
When:  Sunday, November 16th @ noon (Men’s game @ 4:30 PM)
Where:  Assembly Hall (***CHECK IN AT THE NORTHWEST ENTRANCE***)

One more thing…if you have not yet voiced your opinion about a possible Blue Crew roadtrip, you can do so by voting in the poll on the right side of this page.  Every “yes” vote gets us closer to the trip!  Thanks, and GO ILLINI!

In their only exhibition tuneup of the season, the Illini women’s basketball team downed the SIU-E Cougars, 68-53, on Sunday at Assembly Hall.  Click the link below for a game recap.

http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/110908aaa.html

The orange and blue return to the court on November 16th when they take on Eastern Illinois at home.  For this game, we will once again be partnering with Orange Krush and giving out line stamps for those who come to the women’s game.  We’ll also have autographed posters and media guides to give away to the first lucky fans through the gates.  Check your e-mail in the coming days for more information.  Also, if you have yet to voice your opinion about the possible Blue Crew roadtrip, you can do so via the poll at the right of this page.