CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Six scored in double figures and No. 10 Maryland used a balanced effort to win at Illinois, 80-66, Monday night at the State Farm Center.
 
Freshman Shakira Austin led the way with 17 points and fellow freshman Taylor Mikesell scored 12. Junior Kaila Charles and senior Brianna Fraser each chipped in 12 points and juniors Stephanie Jones and Blair Watson each added 11 points.
 
With the win, the Terrapins (20-2, 9-2 B1G) won their fifth straight game and reached the 20-win mark for the 15^th straight season in head coach Brenda Frese's 17 seasons and 25^th time in school history.
 
Brandi Beasley hit two three-pointers in the first three minutes to open a four-point lead for the Illini  (9-13, 1-10) early. But a three-pointer by Watson sparked a 15-2 Terrapin run that open a double digit lead. Five Terrapins scored in the run, led by Austin with seven.
 
Watson went on a 9-0 run herself in the second quarter to push the lead to as much as 24. The Illini went on a 15-2 run to end the first half, led by two threes by Sarah Shewan, to cut the Terps' lead to 48-37 at the half.
 
The Terrapins came out of halftime and went just 5-for-18 from the floor in the third quarter. Illinois ended the period on a 7-0 run over the last 2:00 to make it a 61-54 Maryland lead with 10:00 to play.
 
The Terps outrebounded the Illini, 44-32, and won the battle inside, 36-22. Seven Terrapins contributed to 18 assists on 28 field goals. Maryland shot 77 percent from the free throw line (17-22).
 
Maryland owns the series over Illinois, 9-0 and is 3-0 at State Farm Arena.
 
Charles was named to the Big Ten Player of the Week honor roll for the second straight week and sixth time in her career earlier Monday. She shot 80 percent from the field in the Terps' lone game last week and finished with 22 points, six rebounds and four assists.
 
Maryland is ranked No. 10 in the AP poll and in the USA Today Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll.
 
Next, the Terrapins will return home to College Park to host Northwestern (14-8, 7-4) Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the XFINITY Center.
 
Thursday's game is the Terrapins' annual Play4Kay Pink Game to support breast cancer awareness. The Terps will sport pink and fans are encouraged to do the same. The first 500 fans will receive a pink pom pom. For tickets, click here.
 
Those who have been affected by breast cancer can register here to take place in an on-court tribute.
 
There will be a silent auction benefiting Play4Kay before the game at Gate B with the winners announced via email after the game.
 
The Terps-Wildcats game will be streamed around the world on the BTN2Go app and BTN2Go.com. Fans can watch with their BTN Plus subscriptions.