2. The Stars Came to Play this afternoon.
The fourth quarter of this game turned into a dual between Mackenzie Holmes and Makira Cook. This afternoon was the Makira Cook Illinois head coach Shauna Green had been waiting for all season. The senior guard scored 13 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter. She wasn't the only one who saved her best for last.
Holmes also scored 13 fourth-quarter points in this game. Most importantly, Holmes missed only one free throw in the final frame. Holmes also came up with some big defensive stops late in the fourth quarter.
Illinois forward Katie Bostic held her own against Indiana's frontcourt with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Indiana guard/forward Yarden Garzon started slowly but scored 12 points, including a couple of big baskets in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers also found offense from a somewhat unexpected source.
Point guard Chole Moore-McNeil is usually the outlet when they double team Holmes or Garzon, but it seemed as if head coach Teri Moren told her to be more aggressive and find her own shot. Moore-McNeil had her best offensive game of the season, scoring 19 points, including a key three-pointer late in the fourth quarter.