CHAMPAIGN – Theresa Grentz has warned her team to be on its guard this week.

Or, more specifically, to be on Northwestern's guards.

When the University of Illinois women's basketball team visits Evanston Friday for a Big Ten Conference game against Northwestern, the Illini will be confronted with the nation's most prolific three-point shooters.

The Wildcats are averaging an NCAA Division I-best 8.3 three-point field goals while connecting on almost 42 percent of their attempts.

"They live and die by that three, and they do more living by it," Grentz said.

If you're looking for a shootout, this 7 p.m. matchup at Welsh-Ryan Arena figures to be to your taste. The second-place Illini, 14-4 overall and 6-2 in the league, rank fifth in the nation in scoring at 83.6 points per game. The Wildcats, 10-6 overall and tied for sixth at 3-4, are 12th nationally in scoring at 80.3.

The Illini, with only Ashley Berggren among the Big Ten's top 15 scorers, rely on a variety of contributors and a potent inside attack.

The Wildcats, with three players among the Big Ten's top eight scorers, use a three-guard lineup and take a bombs-away approach to offense.

That worries Grentz, whose Illini have been stung before by the three-pointer.

"For some reason or other, we seem to have a problem defending that three," the second-year UI coach said. "So we'll have to focus on that in practice, really work on where they like to shoot it from on floor and contest it, and then making sure we get to the boards.

"Even then, you don't count on Northwestern players to miss because they don't miss very often."

Three Wildcats rank in the top five in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage: Kristina Divjak, Michele Ratay and Megan Chawansky. Ratay is second in the league in scoring at 20.8 points, Divjak is third (19.0) and Chawansky eighth (17.3).

Divjak was named Big Ten Player of the Week after scoring 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a loss to Wisconsin on Friday. She then scored 25 points, hitting 6 of 9 threes, and had seven rebounds in a victory over Minnesota on Sunday.

Where the Wildcats appear vulnerable against Illinois is in rebounding. The Illini rank second in the Big Ten in rebounding margin, Northwestern last. Should Wildcat shooters be off target, their second-chance opportunities could be limited.

The Illini again could be without starting guard Krista Reinking, who missed Sunday's game against Indiana due to a sprained ankle. The UI junior is "questionable" for Friday, Grentz said.

Northwestern has dominated this series both historically (30-7) and recently, winning the last nine meetings and 13 of the last 14.

The Wildcats also are 6-1 at home this season, the lone loss coming against Iowa. Illinois is 6-3 on opponents' home courts.