CHAMPAIGN, Illinois - Stephen F. Austin provided Louisiana Tech with a nice season opener Friday night.

Illinois will provide much more than that when the 11th-ranked Lady Techsters face the Fighting Illini Monday at 7 p.m. at Assembly Hall.

"Friday night was good for us because it allowed us to get everyone plenty of minutes and get rid of the first game jitters; " said Tech head coach Kurt Budke, who squad posted a 109-60 win over Stephen F. Austin. "However, Illinois will be a huge challenge for us. They are probably the most athletic team in the Big 10 Conference."

Illinois, which won its season opener 85-50 over Division II Wayne State, returns 11 of its 13 letter winners off of last year's squad that posted a 17-12 mark and participated in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Head coach Theresa Grentz, a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, enters her ninth year at Illinois, her 30th overall in the head coaching fraternity.

Senior forward Aminata Yanni scored 27 points in the season opener in just 21 minutes of action as the honorable mention All-Big Ten selection knocked down 12 of 16 free throws and hit a trio of three-pointers. Junior forward Angelina Williams aided in the victory, posting 22 points.

"They are a lot like us; they are very athletic," Budke said. "They are a very experienced team; an NCAA team with six seniors. They beat some pretty good teams last year in Minnesota, Ohio State and Auburn.

"They are tough to match up with because their starting two, three and four players are all 5-foot-11 and can shoot the three. That means we will have to defend one of those players with one of our post players."

Tech used a solid inside, outside attack in the win over Stephen F. Austin, led by the career-high performance of senior forward Amisha Carter with 22 points. When Carter wasn't scoring on the inside, the Lady Techsters guards were knocking down 9 of 16 three-point attempts.

Perhaps the biggest question for the Techsters entering Monday night's contest is whether senior forward Trina Frierson will play. Frierson, who has already been named the Western Athletic Conference's Preseason Player of the Year, missed the opener and will be a game-time decision.

The contest can be heard on KXKZ-FM 107.5 and via the Internet at www.z1075fm.com.