By Gargoyle sports staff
Posted Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, The OG, sports

URBANA — Playing for the second time in less than 24 hours, the Uni High Illineks lost a nonconference game to the Villa Grove Lady Blue Devils 38-27 this afternoon at Kenney Gym. With the defeat, their sixth in a row and fourth at home, the Illineks fall to 3-7. Villa Grove is 4-3.

Today's contest was originally scheduled for Nov. 30. Bad weather forced the postponement of that game.

The Illineks kept within striking distance of Villa Grove for much of today's matchup, trailing by 4 at the end of the first quarter and by 6 through most of the third.

“It was just the little things here and there that got the best of us,” head coach Rebecca Murphy said. “Defensively we worked well together. Momentary lapses did us in. Villa Grove got some easy baskets. They were very well-versed in running down the clock in the final 2 minutes. They forced us to get out of our game. It didn't feel like [an 11-point loss].”

Sophomore Kaylie Dastrup led the Illineks with 9 points, followed by junior Aran Yoo with 8. Yoo had a team-high 6 steals. Junior Ruthie Welch grabbed 8 rebounds, and Dastrup pulled down 5.

Today's game, which began at 1 p.m., was Uni's second in 16 hours. The girls began conference play Friday night against Decatur Lutheran, losing to the defending East Central Illinois champion 57-38.

Uni will resume conference play Monday night at Kenney Gym against Judah Christian. The Illineks and the Tribe tied for third in the ECIC last season with 5-5 records.

“Despite the losses yesterday and today, if we play with the same effort and intensity Monday as we did this weekend, it'll serve us well against Judah,” Murphy said. “Last night we were much improved over some of our previous games. I was pleased with the effort. Decatur Lutheran is just a very strong team.”

The loss of starting point guard Samantha Nguyen to an ACL injury in the first game of the season has been a tough obstacle for the Illineks to overcome. But Murphy sees signs that her players are adapting and can put together a solid record in the ECIC.

“I spoke to them after the game about being mentally tough,” she said. “If we keep on working, we'll get there.”

VARSITY RECORD: 3-7 overall, 0-1 East Central Illinois Conference
(Games at Kenney Gym in bold)

Season Preview: Illineks ready for season opener tonight

Nov. 16: Atwood-Hammond, W 37-35
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: Illineks triumph in season opener

Nov. 18: Hoopeston (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), W 45-23
— leading scorer: Ruthie Welch, 13 pts
— story: Illineks win one, lose one in Oakwood

Nov. 18: Chrisman (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 50-48
— leading scorers: Rachel Skoza & Jessi Sullivan, 15 pts each
— story: Illineks win one, lose one in Oakwood

Nov. 20: Blue Ridge (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), W 52-47
— leading scorer: Sarah Pfander, 13 pts
— story: Illineks down Blue Ridge in tournament action

Nov. 21: Oakwood (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 72-39
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 16 pts
— story: Shorthanded Uni loses to undefeated Oakwood

Nov. 24: Milford (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 44-24
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 10 pts
— story: Uni finishes sixth in Thanksgiving Classic

Nov. 28: Shiloh, L 45-25
— leading scorer: Ruthie Welch, 5 pts
— story: Uni drops third straight

Nov. 30: Villa Grove, game postponed because of bad weather

Dec. 5: Paxton-Buckley-Loda, L 34-23
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 9 pts
— story: Slump continues as Uni falls to PBL

Dec. 8: Decatur Lutheran, L 57-38 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: Uni begins conference play with loss to defending champ

Dec. 9: Villa Grove, L 38-27
— leading scorer: Kaylie Dastrup, 9 pts
— story: see above

* Conference opponent