March 8, 2008

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Illinois forward Jenna Smith scored 16 points, and the Fighting Illini used an 18-3 closing run to beat fifth-seeded Michigan State 55-41 in the Big Ten tournament semifinals tonight.

The victory sends ninth-seeded Illinois to their first championship game since 1999. The Illini are the lowest seed to ever play for the title and will face Purdue on Sunday.

The third-seeded Boilermakers beat Iowa 80-73 earlier tonight. That gave Purdue a chance to defend last year's title. The Illini have never won the tournament championship.

Michigan State was led by Kalisha Keane with 10 points and Allyssa DeHaan, who had eight.

Illinois shot just 31.5 percent from the field, and the game produced the second-lowest combined score in tourney history.