The women’s basketball team could not dig itself out of a first-half hole Wednesday in a 77-59 loss to the University of Illinois before 865 in Assembly Hall.

Quickly falling behind 8-0 at the game’s onset, CMU (0-2) trailed 46-23 at halftime on 29.6 percent shooting from the field. Illinois (2-1) shot 46.7 percent from the field in the first half, going 4-for-12 in three-point field goals, and 43.1 percent for the game.

Despite being down by as many as 28 points at one point, CMU played a much stronger second half, outscoring the Fighting Illini 36-31. Illinois was held to 37 percent shooting, including 1-of-7 from beyond the 3-point line.

Illinois out-rebounded CMU 49-35 for the game.

In her first start of the season, senior guard Kendra Holman led the Chippewas in scoring with 15 points while senior forward Britni Houghton added 12 points and nine rebounds.

Senior center Jenna Smith led the Fighting Illini with 31 points and 12 rebounds while senior forward Lacey Simpson had 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

CMU will play in its regular season home opener at 2p.m. Saturday against Loyola-Chicago in Rose Arena.

E-mail the author: Aaron McMann