How News-Gazette staff writer Tony Bleill voted in this week's Associated Press women's Top 25 college basketball poll:

FINAL: Indiana 67, Illinois 54

With Minnesota's loss Sunday, the Illini had a chance to escape the Big Ten cellar. It was an opportunity squandered. 

Game 23

UI women vs. Indiana,

Ex-Maroon key to Indiana hot streak

CHAMPAIGN – With 5:45 remaining in the first half of Sunday's Illinois-Indiana game, Hoosiers coach Felisha Legette-Jack pulled forward Hope Elam from the game and gave the former Champaign Central star a loud verbal lashing in plain sight – and earshot – of just about everyone at the Assembly Hall.

CHAMPAIGN – These days, answers are hard to come by for the Illinois women's basketball team.

Take, for instance, the team's psyche. Is it still intact? Battered beyond repair? Hanging by a thread?

Prediction: PURDUE 59, ILLINOIS 49

Considering that Illinois beats Purdue with all the frequency of a presidential inauguration, it isn't difficult to forecast a winner. Illinois just doesn't win at Mackey. Plus, the Boilermakers have the type of guard play that can give the Illini major problems. They have a penetrator in Malone and three-point shooters in Rayburn and Howell. That should be the difference tonight. (News-Gazette prediction record: 13-8)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Illinois blocked a school-record 12 shots and held Purdue to 27.0 percent shooting, but it wasn't enough in a 53-48 loss in Big Ten women's action.

The Illini committed 23 turnovers and went almost eight minutes without scoring during one second-half stretch.

Game 21

UI women