By Andrew Lovdahl
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, The OG, sports

URBANA — The visiting Paxton-Buckley-Loda Panthers defeated Uni 34-23 Tuesday night at Kenney Gym, dropping the Illineks' record to 3-5. The loss is the team's fourth in a row.

Sophomore Rachel Skoza led Uni with 9 points.

Less than four minutes into the game, PBL held an 8-0 lead. Uni ended the first quarter on a high note, however, as junior Aran Yoo advanced downcourt for an uncontested layup mere seconds before the buzzer, narrowing the Panthers' lead to 10-6.

In the second quarter PBL added 12 points, 6 of which the Panthers scored in the final minute of the period. By halftime, Uni trailed 22-7.

Sophomore Kaylie Dastrup's 5 points off the bench highlighted the third quarter for the Illineks.

With 2:30 left in the game and PBL ahead 34-18, Uni put together one last streak, scoring 5 points in less than 20 seconds.

Junior Ruthie Welch was fouled and made her first free throw but missed the second; Uni came down with the rebound and Skoza scored 2 points. As the Panthers began to move the ball downcourt, Uni stole it back immediately and Welch scored another bucket to make it 34-23. The scoring ended there for both teams.

The next varsity game is 6 p.m. Friday at Kenney Gym. Decatur Lutheran visits.

In JV play, PBL defeated Uni 29-12. Sophomore Sheri Grill led Uni with 4 points. Dastrup and juniors Angela Jin and Marika Iyer also contributed; all nine players on the JV roster saw court time.

VARSITY RECORD: 3-5
(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: see above