By Avanti Chajed
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Monday, Dec. 11, 2006, The OG, sports

URBANA — Aran Yoo scored 13 points and fellow junior Ruthie Welch grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Uni to a 44-29 win over conference opponent Judah Christian tonight at Kenney Gym.

The victory snaps a six-game Illinek losing streak and raises Uni's record to 4-7 overall, 1-1 in the East Central Illinois Conference.

Going into tonight's game, there was every reason to expect the contest to be close. Last season Uni and Judah each finished 5-5 in the ECIC to place third behind conference champion Decatur Lutheran and runner-up Normal Calvary Baptist. The teams split their regular-season meetings, with Uni winning a third matchup in the opening round of the Class A regionals.

For the first three quarters of tonight's contest, the teams again appeared to be well-matched. Uni led 22-20 at the half and 32-28 heading into the final period.

With 6:49 left in the game, Judah hit a free throw to draw within 3 points, 32-29.

But that was the closest the Tribe would get as the Illineks got fired up the rest of the way.

“In the end the intensity, talking to each other, moving the ball, seeing openings, and taking open shots improved,” Uni head coach Rebecca Murphy said. “We put Aran on their prime offensive weapon, which broke down their offensive system.”

Three baskets by sophomore Rachel Skoza within the next 2 minutes shifted the momentum to the Illineks as they scored the final 12 points to come away with the double-digit win.

“I think we played well as a team, especially with passing,” said Skoza.

Besides leading the Illineks in scoring, including a 3-pointer just 26 seconds into the game, Yoo recorded a season-high 7 steals. Sophomore Jessi Sullivan led the team with 4 assists.

Skoza added 12 points, followed by Welch with 8 and Sullivan with 6.

Welch's dozen rebounds included 9 offensive boards. Skoza grabbed 8 rebounds, and Sullivan and junior Sarah Pfander each contributed 7.

The Illineks will play ECIC opponent DeLand-Weldon in a road game Thursday night. JV action begins at 6 p.m. Click here for directions to DeLand-Weldon.

VARSITY RECORD: 4-7 overall, 1-1 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: Villa Grove hands Illineks fourth home defeat of season

Dec. 11: Judah Christian, W 44-29 *
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 13 pts
— story: see above

* Conference opponent